Food Traceability Experts Unveil Vital Food Safety Resource

Phil Black - PII Editor 17/10/2023

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CAST and IFT Collaborate on Traceability Issue Paper to Help Improve Food Safety and Security in the Food and Agricultural Community

WASHINGTON, D.C. – September 28, 2023 – The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) and the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) released an issue paper today which examines traceability fundamentals including the development and use of various technologies to enhance foodsafety, source transparency, and consumer confidence. With an increased interest on foodtraceability around the globe including a focus on complying with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s end-to-end traceability mandate for food and agricultural products, the issue paper is intended as a foundational resource for stakeholders across industry, academia, government agencies, and trade associations.

The issue paper explores the technological infrastructure underlying foodtraceability platforms while touching on the history of those platforms, the current state of technology, ongoing U.S. foodtraceability initiatives, as well as the future of commercial scale deployment.

Robert Gravani, PhD, professor emeritus, Cornell University, and former Board President of IFT, served as publication Task Force Chair.

“With the increase in the size, scope, and complexity of the global food supply chain, the ability to track and trace foods and ingredients through the system quickly and efficiently is of paramount importance,” said Gravani. “It is a perfect time for all supply chain partners to implement a well-organized, systematic, and interoperable end-to-end traceability system to improve foodsafety, quality, national origin, authenticity, and sustainability.”

Bryan Hitchcock, Chief Science and Technology Officer for IFT, added: “The effectiveness of any traceability system is based on the quality of data collected, and emerging tools and technologies offer significant opportunity to improve that digital data and help create a safer food supply. Everyone from consumers and food producers to distributors, retailers, and foodsafety regulators have been demanding improved traceability for years and now, through scientific and technological advancements, foodtraceability can become a reality.”

Gravani will discuss the issue paper and its impact on the food supply chain during in-person presentations on Thursday, September 28, in Washington, D.C., that will be open to the public at the following times and locations:

9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. EDT: Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU), 1220 L Street NW, Suite 1000

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. EDT: Lunch and Learn – U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, North Congressional Meeting Room 268, First Street SE

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. EDT: Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU), 1220 L Street NW, Suite 1000

Interested attendees can register here. Those who cannot attend in-person can attend a virtual webinar on Thursday, October 5, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. CDT. Learn more or register here.

To download the issue paper, click here or go to https://www.cast-science.org/publication/food-traceability-current-status-and-future-opportunities/.