On the Mark #5

On the Mark #5: FDA hands down “game-changing” new traceability rule for food safety

Catching up on interesting news and innovations in production,
packaging and more

On the Mark graphic showing FDA sign in front of building.

FDA’s traceability rule is a game-changer for food safety.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently released new traceability rules to help ensure the safety of food and ingredients through all steps of the journey, from origin to consumer. The new rules will help identify the source of contaminated foods to prevent or mitigate the impact of foodborne illness outbreaks and address potential public health hazards. The rules require foods on the Food Traceability List to maintain key data elements (KDEs) such as lot numbers and harvest locations. The inability to rapidly track and trace food can cost lives, millions of dollars, and damage to consumer trust. Source: foodsafetynews.com.

Cybersecurity concerns among top barriers for remote access adoption.

IT security concerns are the top barrier to CPG adoption of remote access technology. The PMMI Business Intelligence 2022 report identified malware and access to sensitive company information as key concerns for the technology. While cybersecurity is a main concern, companies identified other barriers to adoption as well, including whether legacy equipment would be able to support the technology, the lack of understanding about the technology as well as cost. There is interest among CPGs, but to support a move to remote technology they need the technology to be simpler to use, more secure and reassured of the technology’s effectiveness. Source: automationworld.com.

Continental Tire technology tracks NR origins for transparent sustainability.

Delivering sustainable tires is more than just manufacturing and performance – it’s also about using sustainable materials and transparently tracking sources. Taking this a step further, tire-maker Continental A.G. is working on new marker technology so the company can source natural rubber for use in its tires. The new marker technology involves “unalterable chemical-based barcodes” to help track the origins of the natural rubber. For a verification test, the German tire-maker used the software and a reader to retrieve, read and correctly interpret the data, identifying the origin of the natural rubber in its bicycle tire. The company believes that marker technology will help make complex processes in its supply chain more transparent and verifiable. Source: rubbernews.com.

The top trends driving food and beverage in 2023.

A recent report by Innova Market Insights uncovers key trends in consumer behavior that are driving the food and beverage industry. Notably, consumers want a more sustainable food system, minimal food waste and they value fresh, locally produced products that contribute to consumer health. Other key values include plant-based foods and a focus on sustainable farming systems and food sourcing. In fact, 69% of consumers globally say they prefer products that mention sourcing/farming on the package. What’s less of a priority than previous years? Convenience. Consumers are apparently willing to spend more time in the kitchen. Other trends include quick indulgence spending and government involvement to address health challenges and labeling. Source: profoodworld.com.