The Challenge:
Suppliers aren’t ready for food traceability – and neither is their data.
Even when suppliers are willing to participate in food traceability initiatives, the data they provide is often incomplete, inconsistent or inaccurate. That’s a serious risk when you’re responsible for public health, the protection of your brand, and meeting the requirements of the FDA’s FSMA 204 final rule on food traceability.
Traceability is a food safety challenge that requires a supply chain solution.
Food traceability is reshaping food safety and more, opening the door to faster, more efficient recalls, better-informed waste management efforts, and improved operational efficiencies. However, a solving food traceability requires involvement from:
- The total supply chain: from suppliers, to distribution centers and warehouses, to the retail food establishment
- Many functional areas: from Information Technology (IT), to warehouse and store operations, to QA/QC and other departments.
It takes months – and sometimes years – to get suppliers onboard.
Although it may seem like there’s plenty of time until FDA enforcement begins, there’s truly no time to waste. Food traceability starts with the supplier. It takes time and effort – holding their hands to get them:
- Aligned and onboarded with a traceability program
- Able to locate and consistently share all required food traceability data for every shipment
- Set up to detect and fix errors or omissions in food traceability data files so that what’s sent to you is as complete and accurate as possible
The Solution:
ReposiTrak is the world’s largest food traceability network. It’s scalable and requires no additional hardware or software. Error detection is built-in, and our U.S.-based Customer Success Team is there to help every step of the way.
With thousands of suppliers in the process of onboarding today, there’s a good chance many of your suppliers are already here.
Why accuracy matters:
- Brand Protection: A single foodborne illness outbreak can erode consumer trust overnight. Accurate food traceability data helps you to isolate problems quickly and act decisively.
- Regulatory Readiness: Waiting until 2028 is not a strategy. The clock is ticking, and it will take time to stand up and implement a food traceability program. The sooner you start, the better your chances at meeting the FDA’s enforcement deadline and avoiding costly penalties.
- Consumer Demand: Consumers want to know that the food they’re purchasing is safe and now – more than ever – they’re demanding transparency. Don’t let your competition figure out food traceability before you. Consumers will notice.
