BENTONVILLE, AR - Comprised of so many moving pieces, it can seem impossible to track every aspect of our industry’s supply chain. However, 10 major companies are seeking to make the impossible a reality. Industry giants like Walmart and Driscoll's are creating a blockchain to track food worldwide, which has now been dubbed the Food Trust. It’s ultimately about expediting the time it takes to identify recalls and reduce risks for consumers.
“You’re capturing real-time data at every point, on every single food product,” Frank Yiannas, Vice President of Food Safety for Walmart, shared in a recent report from Wall Street Journal. Walmart is also reportedly leading the charge for the blockchain. “It’s the equivalent of FedEx tracking for food.”
Walmart, Kroger, Driscoll’s, Dole Food Company, Tyson Foods, Nestlé, Golden State Foods, Unilever, McCormick, and McLane, among others, are all part of the Food Trust group, which is looking to create new standards for the entirety of the food industry.
“We are competitors, yes, but working together to ensure the trust of consumers,” Chris Tyas, Global Head of Supply Chain for Nestlé, said in the post from the news source.
The Food Trust blockchain, which is built with International Business Machines Corp., is seen as a record-keeper that monitors transactions with many hand-offs, preserving one consistent history throughout the process, Howard Popoola, Vice President of Corporate Food Technology and Regulatory Compliance at Kroger, expressed. By eliminating costly middle steps, the blockchain aims to create an ownership over the process, with encrypted data that monitors those working within the Food Trust’s processes.
As of right now, every step within the supply chain is responsible for keeping track of its own food—from where it comes and to where it is sent—according to federal rules. With information tracked in this capacity, the FDA contacts companies that are involved whenever there is an illness outbreak, as the participating parties recreate the food’s trek throughout the process.
Some items currently storing data within the system are Driscoll’s strawberries, Tyson’s chicken thighs, and Nestlé’s canned pumpkin.
What are the next products on retailers shelves to participate in the Food Trust group and use this process? AndNowUKnow will keep you updated with the latest.
