Food Security

Gaining Consumers' Confidence with Food Traceability Systems

Concerns over food processing has lead to increased need for food security systems.

Food safety is a growing concern worldwide. The global food industry has been rocked with scandals from mad cow disease and avian flu scares to melamine-tainted milk. Cases of labeling fraud and fears of malicious attacks on the food supply make headlines around the world. These food scares have increased public suspicions regarding food safety in the increasingly complex food production and trading system.

Establishing a traceability system is one popular strategy to win the confidence of consumers while addressing information requirements under multinational and bilateral trade agreements. Food traceability is a tool that tracks all steps of flow of food from production to retailing. It allows food producers or authorities to withdraw or recall products that have been identified as unsafe. The use of information and communication technology (ICT) in traceability systems facilitates improved efficiency in the management of the food supply chain and in the event of a food safety incident, the source of the problem can be quickly identified and action taken. Food traceability systems are therefore critical for the food industry and the public. It is expected that these systems will be increasingly adopted in food-exporting countries as a strategy to improve competitiveness in the global food market. Developing countries can learn from Japan, which uses ICT in its advanced food traceability systems.

Adapted from ADBI Working Paper No. 139, Food Safety and ICT Traceability Systems: Lessons from Japan for Developing Countries. View the full paper.