TRACING WITH QR CODES TO PREVENT FOOD FRAUD.

The recalls concerning a lot of food items and pet products have sensitized the public about food sources,handling and codes.

The recalls are usually done per batches or dates of manufacture depending on where the error occurred, this has led to various means of tracing and tracking products that are fast,cheap and easy to use.   A company recently came up with an innovation using QR CODE

 A traceability system developed in New Zealand uses Quick Response (QR) codes so consumers with smartphones can have an easily accessible history of the source and status of an item, whether it happens to be a dairy product, a car, or any other merchandise.

 ID locate is a relatively new product developed by a company based in Auckland, NZ. Companies implementing the system pay a one-time setup charge and then a monthly maintenance fee, while consumers interested in their brands can use it for free.

 Woman scanning food with phone at storeSimon Bell, who handles technical and operational issues for the company, explained that the generated information can alert consumers to a food fraud problem, a related recall, or other issues involving a particular product.

 “It’s all database-driven so when they scan the QR code, it generates a particular URL so whatever information we have around that particular product is unique. It could be anything.

When a consumer scans it, it instantly tells them whether there’s a recall on that product,” “We’ve got a really good understanding of unique coding and imaging and a really good understanding of the application process.

 It’s incredibly secure and incredibly mobile; we can roll and do it in 15 minutes. We haven’t found anybody else who can do what we can do,” he said.

 There is almost no limit to the information which can be tracked on a food item. Besides the origin and recall history, it could be data from an outbreak investigation, video footage, or other content specific to that individual product,

 Bell noted. Lots of research is being done these days involving genetically engineered foods and various product investigations, but nothing has systematically been done linking that research with the consumer, he said.

 Read more here;http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2015/11/food-traceability-tool-developed-in-new-zealand-uses-qr-codes/#.VlRqzHarSM8

New tool for foodborne diseases released

Search tool for foodborne diseases released

Human DNA found in hot dogs

Human DNA found in hot dogs

FOOD FRAUD IN THE RED MEAT INDUSTRY.

Pictures above shows how #butchers cut corners, holes made in the carcass and filled with water to make up desired weight requested by customers. This practice is also done with the lungs, these are inflated and water is poured to increase the weight.

FOOD FRAUD IN BEEF PROCESSING PLANT.

Beef processing and handling is riddled with a lot of challenges, ranging from lack of insurance policy to lack of compensation to butchers who have their animals condemned.

The food industry has faced with a lot of challenges and all hands must be on deck to ensure that the proper protocols are enforced. The food fraud saga rocking some countries has resulted in several food recalls and a larger percentage of the populace are changing their dietary preferences. 

Sharp practices are employed by processors to ensure they make profit to the detriment of consumers. 

 Have you gone to the market to buy beef weighing a particular KG,but when you leave on kitchen unit you discover a reduction in size? or you cut up the beef and when its done you discover a dramatic reduction? well!!! welcome to food fraud arena. 

The carcass is usually punctured and water is poured in the carcass to increase the weight.When you ask processors to supply beef at a particular weight,they simply add water to make up for the short fall and break even. #change it # new paradigm # better processing # meat inspection laws.# new breed butchers.

FOOD FRAUD.

This refers to illegal practices in the food industry,where food producers/vendors are substituting other food stuff which are substandard ,unhealthy and usually offered at cheap prices.The food fraud is usually done by adulteration of food with chemicals,additives and colors to present to unsuspecting consumers as wholesome.

This food fraud has been going on for sometime,but the rise in rate of recalls has beamed more light on these illegal activities.The chemicals,additives have been discovered to be carcinogenic,opening up another dimension to this fraudulent activity. 

 This food fraud only makes us ask what are we eating???what are the producers fiddling with???............so many questions.A large number of companies have been fingered in this adulteration,but China has popped up a lot of times, where chicken and pork are mixed with additives and cut in blocks and sold as beef.

There are cases where packaged dog meat is sold  in supermarkets, which pops the question again what are we eating? dog meat,horse meat or engineered meat??? your guess is as good as mine. The food fraud has really spread its tentacles from beef to fish to honey to cashew nut to alcohol to beer the list is endless. 

We really need to check our food sources and who is bringing what to our table.............how do we monitor what is in our markets? trace- ability ?,compliance with food safety regulations??? according to Times Mag; 2,500 tons of food we consume are fake, this is really alarming.

FOOD FRAUD INVESTIGATION.

Su Cheng Foodstuffs investigated over food fraud