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Jumat, 02 Oktober 2015

The Importance Of Food Traceability Software Systems

By Della Monroe


Food factories nowadays produce literally thousands or millions of individual food products. The products are manufactured in batches or consignments and it is humanly impossible for the manufacturer to check or handle each item. Yet mistakes and low quality items sometimes enter the production line. These products are either not saleable or they pose a health risk to the public. The manufacturer therefore needs some form of system to track and record their products, and food traceability software systems are one option.

There are two main causes of trouble with food products, causing the manufacturer to trace and monitor them. One is that the food is past its expiry date. This is an administrative matter that the manufacturer cannot do anything about. Even if the food remains fit for human consumption, if legislation does not allow the food to be sold then it cannot be, regardless of its quality. No matter how bureaucratic this may appear to be to the consumer, stores cannot disobey the legislation.

The other cause is authentic decomposition, or loss of quality to the extent that the food product cannot be consumed any more. This is usually encountered in the case of perishables like vegetables, fruit and dairy, but it is also possible with canned goods or items which can be stored for a very long time, such as grains.

The software systems are used to tag and record each batch of products. The manufacturer can then track the batch and monitor its movement, so that they can locate it and eliminate it from the market if they need to.

Yet the consumer can also empower themselves in order to avoid purchasing undesirable expired goods. This is important because the system of tracking and monitoring is not foolproof. Retailers can manipulate the system to avoid the elimination of expired goods. For example, where an expiry date is published on the packaging, this date may not be accurate or may be edited as it approaches.

Canned goods are especially easy to check by the consumer because the metal changes shape as the product goes off. If the can is inflated, the contents are rotting, which may also mean that air has entered into the can. If the can is at all dented, punctured or rusted then it should not be purchased.

There are also products on the market these days that are designed to be marketed as having a long shelf life. However, they are not exempt from expiry, either. Retailers or wholesalers might sometimes try to put these items on the shelves for a very long time, even a couple of years. Yet consumers should always check the expiry date. Where a retailer refuses to adhere to the expiry date, the manufacturer or even the authorities can be contacted with the complaint.

Expired food products are a serious threat to public health and they should be identified and eliminated from sale as soon as possible. This is not only about the taste or quality of the products - the public should be protected against avoidable diseases.




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