SafeTraces and traceability technology.

SafeTraces and Trace-ability Technology.

Safe Traces manufactures biological tracers, or invisible, edible, odorless, and tasteless bar  codes that food producers and processors can apply directly to food.

The technology, which was developed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, a US Department of Energy-sponsored research facility, was originally used as a bio-stimulant to enhance our response capability following an intentional or accidental release of a biological agent.

 Food processors and other parties handling food in the supply chain can spray SafeTraces’ seaweed-based DNA tag on individual food items so that their provenance and qualities can be traced and verified throughout the supply chain.

 The markers can be read with specific bar code readers, providing a traceability tool, but also a food safety tool as they will be able to detect some pathogens too.

 So far the technology is being used by a handful of food and farming customers across varying industries from apples to chocolate.

The invisible tagging system makes the tags themselves virtually tamper-proof and the tags can serve as verification for various qualities like geographical provenance, organic status, sustainable sourcing, or varietal.