The Top Five Best Practices for Traceability
For food and beverage manufacturers, traceability is the ability to trace each ingredient of a product from “farm to fork” through the creation of a batch genealogy. Traceability in the food and beverage supply chain is crucial during outbreaks and recalls, according to food safety experts. But what are the five best traceability tips to make sure your food and beverage company is always one step ahead?
1. Automate
The most important traceability tip is automation. This is the surest way to minimize risk and ensure the quality of your products. Manually updating Excel spreadsheets with vast quantities of data is time consuming, difficult and very prone to human error. Instead food manufacturing software and traceability software can manage all the data for you. Importantly it can trace all ingredients back to the source, and you can be empowered by seeing coverage of all the trace relationships in your supply chain.
2. Avoid Unnecessary Recalls
Recalls can be an incredibly costly process. In 2008, a salmonella outbreak led to the recall of tomatoes across much of North America. The outbreak was later attributed to jalapeno and serrano peppers. However, the total estimated loss to the tomato industry as a result of this extensive recall was over $200 million. The great benefit of traceability software is you avoid this risk of unnecessary recalls, since each ingredient of a product can be traced from “farm to fork”.
3. Connect Data and Have Real-Time Information
With traceability software, system capabilities include serialized container and individual part tracking; built-in bar code printing and scanning, RFID, and direct part marking. Having access to this highly detailed traceability information from any point in the manufacturing process is one of the greatest traceability tips. When you have accurate data at your fingertips in real time, you can respond quickly and effectively and run your company with true efficiency.
4. Educate Yourself
Traceability is a challenging and complicated topic that is constantly evolving and expanding its reach. Research best practices online, or get in touch with Cashmere if you’d like some friendly advice about traceability best practices.
5. Check in With the FDA
On January 12 2021, the FDA clarified their position in regards to its newly proposed traceability rule, “Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods” (Food Traceability Proposed Rule). Firstly, they made clarifying edits to the Food Traceability List (FTL), which lists the foods for which manufacturers must have additional traceability recordkeeping requirements. Secondly, the FDA published an FAQ, addressing questions they have recently received.
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Don’t worry, we’re here to help you! If your food and beverage company is looking to scale and grow via ERP solutions, traceability and demand planing software, and meet all the FDA requirements, get in touch with Cashmere today.