3785 NW 82nd

ave, Suite 110, Doral - Fl 33166. Phone.: (786) 331 1281 www.celeritech.biz // info@celeritech.biz

Traceability & Food Safety, Quality Management

“Identifying the true source of food contaminants is key to minimizing the impact of food audits or recalls” Massive food recalls have led to the demand for greater visibility and precision in the global food supply chain. The ability to trace food products and ingredients back to their sources to respond quickly to recalls is critical in minimizing financial losses, illnesses, and lost lives. In one large-scale situation, more than 36 million pounds of processed turkey products distributed to 26 states were recalled by Cargill, the third largest turkey processor in the United States, for Salmonella Heidelberg bacteria – but it took five months from the first reported case of the illness until the source of the contamination could be identified. This delay, while the problem and source were investigated, led to a greater cost for the recall and illnesses that should have been prevented. Identifying the true source of food contaminants is key to minimizing the scope of the impact. Misidentification can be costly. In one case, when a rare form of Salmonella broke out in produce, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) initially warned the public off tomatoes then later traced the true source to peppers produced by a farm in Mexico. Not only did this early misinformation cost additional illnesses as the public continued to consume contaminated peppers, it cost the tomato industry an estimated loss of $250 million in unnecessary recalls and lost sales.

3785 NW 82nd

ave, Suite 110, Doral - Fl 33166. Phone.: (786) 331 1281 www.celeritech.biz // info@celeritech.biz

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that more than 90 million people suffer from food poisoning each year, and nearly a half a million become so sick that they have to be hospitalized, and 5,700 more die. The total human cost is probably far greater. The

CDC also reports that for every reported case of food poisoning, ten more go unreported.

These staggering numbers have driven the federal government, through the U.S. Drug

Administration (USDA) and the FDA, to get serious about tracking and eliminating food

and beverage contamination. Over the last decade, the federal government has

introduced nearly 100 food safety legislative proposals and passed the Food Safety

Modernization Act (FSMA), the most far-reaching legislation to date.

The Need for Traceability

Traceability systems help firms reduce expensive overstocks, coordinate orders and

shipments, and manage inventories. Electronic accounting systems for tracking

inventory, purchases, production, and sales are an integral part of doing business in the

United States.

Today, all food processors must have the capability to rapidly identify and track every

ingredient for every one of their products from receipt through processing, packaging,

and shipping, to the exact customer location. In the case of an investigation or recall,

companies must be able to demonstrate that they have recorded this information at least

one step back and one step forward in their supply chain.

However, the U.S. Inspector General’s Office reports that despite harsh penalties for

non-compliance, these recordkeeping requirements are being met for only one of every

eight food products, and most food processing facilities do not keep records with specific

lot numbers that facilitate speedy tracking.

For most non-compliant processors, the question is not whether they should adopt

robust traceability practices. They recognize the need. The question is how to do it.

Thousands of processors are seeking answers to practical questions, such as where to

start and what steps to take to meet traceability requirements.

3785 NW 82nd

ave, Suite 110, Doral - Fl 33166. Phone.: (786) 331 1281 www.celeritech.biz // info@celeritech.biz

Technology to the Rescue

Food processors are turning to technology solutions for traceability and visibility in the

global food supply chain. Using software that isolates quality issues, users can easily

identify and quarantine suspect material.

Processors need to tightly manage production quality, even into the suppliers’operations.

ERP systems with quality management functions enable them to do so easily and

effectively. The best-of-the-best software provides data on all processing steps in real

time during production and in archives for future reference — making traceability

information available quickly and easily. The ideal solution includes traceability features

within its inventory system.

Capabilities include serialized container and individual product tracking, built-in

barcode printing and scanning, RFID and detailed container-to-container tracking,

both upstream and downstream through production to shipment. Software

must also include non-conformance/corrective and preventative actions statistical

process control, and related functions.

Celeritech ERP solutions, include all of these functions and serve as a single source

solution to track every ingredient through all processing steps, from receipt through

finished product shipment. We offer an open & flexible technology platform supported by

a service-oriented architecture.

We help:

Minimize risk of losing customer trust by professionally managing a possible

recall of a defective batch

Minimize risk of noncompliance with food regulations

Enable effective batch-specific returns processing

Monitor materials planning, sales and distribution, procurement and production