Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
Remember the age-old riddle that led to numerous disputes throughout history???
Well, keeping the argument aside, let’s try to figure out where the bird/animal was fed and raised. An end-to-end traceability tool that helps to scan the entire journey of the meat that you consume would solve your curiosity on whether animal welfare measures were met, where it was raised, what it was fed and the various certification procedures that the products underwent to certify its quality and reliability.
The current state of the meat consumption
Global consumption of meat has increased periodically in the past 30 years and is anticipated to rise rapidly by 2050. Meat is consumed widely as it is a rich source of protein, iron, and Vitamin B12, and its nutritive value in building muscle mass and bone density. However, the food choices of people have altered considerably because of sustainability standards and values associated with planetary welfare. Whether to endorse vegetarianism or a non-vegetarian diet is purely subjective, but what is of poignant importance is to ensure the quality of food products that one consumes. Blockchain food traceability software opens gateways to ensure the authenticity of meat from farm to plate.
Transparency can be the key driver to consumer trust:
In this transparent age, consumers have every right to trace the origin of food products that safeguard the nutritional value and showcases the organic claims of products. The rising incidents of food-borne illnesses, food recalls, and outbreaks have delivered companies to do a reality check on their supply chain, which is fragile. Consumers grew wary of the origins of their meats during the pandemic phase as protein intake was insisted on for covid patients to help replenish the lost nutrients and boost immunity. From the farm to the finished product, there must be comprehensive documentation on the traceability of the meat supply chain.
What is a traceability plan in the meat industry?
When tracing the journey of meat products, several factors must be considered.
The stages are as follows:
1. Identifying and classifying the animal will give us a lot of information on its origin.
2. The second step would be identifying where the meat was processed, packaged, and sold.
3. Finally, there should also be an identification system to help track down any food-borne illnesses that might have occurred due to this particular product.
Why is traceability of meat important to the consumer?
The traceability of meat is no more a ‘nice to have tool’ but a necessity. It helps in throwing light on the following factors such as:
1. The use of only the best meat is guaranteed through meat traceability in all products.
2. You can verify whether animals were raised sustainably using meat traceability.
3. The origin of meat, whether it has come from an ethical farm or not.
4. Build consumer confidence in its reliability.
5. Avoid food hazards and fastens food recalls.
6. To ensure product safety (guide us to find the source of the problem or fraud)
How can the meat industry become more competitive and increase brand value?
According to Josh Balk, Vice president of farm animal protection for the Humane Society, said in an interview with Bloomberg News, “covid is shining a light for consumers to start evaluating their own choices and whether or not they want to continue to buy meat,” Hence the meat supply chain could turn more transparent and gear up for the future by building consumer trust, and end-to-end meat traceability optimizes supply chain operations. It satiates a consumer’s need for information, which builds trust with your brand.
How to comply with meat traceability requirements?
The current conventional meat sector can pave the road toward compliance if the visibility of the product journey is shown. As the need for meat increases in the future decades, there is a pressing need to adapt to modern consumers’ demands for transparency.
The main objectives sought for complying with meat traceability are:
- Information and data must be accurate and up-to-date to meet the requirements of the consumer, purchasers, and the government.
- Controlling the risks that can affect the food supply chain.
- Raising animals in a sustainable way and showcasing organic claims that comply with food safety standards can reflect responsible sourcing.
According to Bill Marley, Food Safety Attorney, Advocate: “Each and every member of the food industry, from farm to fork, must create a culture where food safety and nutrition are paramount.”
Traceability at CIED helps to track the digital trail and allows the supply chain actors to handle food sources with precision, and data that is provided in the blockchain calls for better reliability of product sources. With every step we take, we fuel a stronger drive to make the world better for our future generations. If your company is experiencing these traceability problems, we could help you with that.