Improving supply chain management for food safety

The food supply chain becomes hard to manage as environmental and time limitations occur. Over the past few years, food safety regulations have further added to the complication. The Bioterrorism Act of 2002 & the Food Safety Modernization Act need upgraded data on food origin and traceability information to help upgrade the food safety supply chain.

There have also been procedures for detecting and locating food contamination incidents. The Reportable Food Registry requires companies to disclose grave product contaminations as well. The food safety regulations also allow stakeholders to enhance food safety supply chain management by implementing technology to battle compliance issues. Companies can improve their safety performances in the following ways:

Carefully Assessing All Suppliers, Distributors, and Carriers:

As non-compliance with food safety can put any brand at risk, information about the origin of the products, comprising all storage facilities, should be made accessible. Safety means and testing practices should also be monitored frequently.

Conduction of Regular Audits:

A proper auditing process should document food safety supply chain improvement efforts.

Creation of Comprehensive Purchasing Agreements:

The participation of food safety professionals in tracing supplier agreements needs to be done to reduce risk.

Maintenance of Accurate Labeling:

The Bioterrorism Act of 2002 needs importers to supply a significant amount of information to the Food and Drug Administration before importation, involving lot, code number, or other identifying data.

Implementation of Accurate Tracking Technology:

Automatic identification technology can benefit the food safety supply chain. Efforts are being made to expand the tracking policies to individual animals. Radio-frequency identification transponders, a livestock traceability system, can develop the idea of tracking to the point of purchase or delivery.

Development of an Emergency Response Plan:

Accurate food safety supply chain information will improve target recalls and help create a clear response plan for companies to maintain compliance.