A lack of supply chain visibility frustrates efforts to ensure food safety or improve organizational efficiency and customer satisfaction. Key data points, such as unique product identification and location, need to be standardized and digitally encoded so that they can be automatically captured and shared up and down the supply chain, to help ensure interoperability.

Soon, companies producing or handling foods on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Food Traceability List will be required to generate and maintain more detailed records under the proposed rule that aims to supercharge the traceability of foods. Traceability is a joint responsibility, and standardized data systems are the key to sharing supply chain details between stakeholders in a timely and efficient manner.

Here we discuss the results of a pilot study that explored enhanced data sharing in the seafood supply chain.

RFID tags can improve food safety through detailed tracking of cold items within the supply chain.

GS1 leverages its labeling initiative to outline what’s new in track and trace for the cold food industry.