GS1 Australia delivers a powerful force for food and beverage supply chains to protect consumers and brands. This article first appeared in the August 2021 issue of Food and Drink Business.
The electronic Recall platform coupled with the latest dimension in barcodes is a game-changer in the battle against product recalls, food waste and brand damage.
The Recall platform streamlines and improves processes in the event of a product recall or withdrawal, enabling fast and effective removal of products across the supply chain. It communicates information automatically and in real-time with all trading partners and regulators including Food Standards Australia New Zealand and the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission.
GS1 2DBarcodes have the targeted ability to stop the sale of expired or recalled products at the checkout by accessing information encoded within the single symbol’s capability to contain multiple data elements.
Australian Packaging and Processing Machinery Association chair Mark Dingley explains: “If a batch of meat was found to be contaminated, then using 2DBarcodes, that single batch is easily traceable and can be quickly recalled. It means a ‘blanket recall’ – with its associated panic and financial implications – is avoided as only the affected products need to berecalled.”
The information supplied by 2DBarcodes will also allow retailers to pinpoint the specific batches affected by a recall or withdrawal and trace it back through the production line, making it easier to identify the source of contamination.
Both the GS1 Recall platform and 2DBarcodes have been developed to diminish risk and improve consumer safety, proving highly beneficial to brand owners and manufacturers.
