fbtechreview.comAPRIL - 20228in myviewJennifer WilliamsMore than ever before, today's consumer wants to know where their food comes from and that it was raised sustainably and humanely. Four in five consumers surveyed for Tyson Foods' internal research last year indicated that knowing where their beef came from was important to them. Roughly half wanted the ability to trace their food back to the specific ranch or even animal it came from.In today's complicated world, consumers want to know that they can trust the products they buy. According to the 2021 Power of Meat study, one third of meat shoppers seek out items that address sustainability, animal welfare and social responsibility. Traceability has the potential to boost sales, food safety and consumer confidence. An increased focus on transparency through traceability provides myriad benefits to both consumers and processors. Tyson Foods has taken several steps to increase traceability in its supply chain over the years.In 2018, Tyson demonstrated its commitment to supply chain transparency as the first beef processor to license the Progressive Beef program, a comprehensive quality management system designed for cattle feeding operations that sell to companies like Tyson. Progressive Beef covers all aspects of day-to-day cattle care. Cattle feeding operators certified in the program follow best practices for animal welfare, food safety, responsible antibiotic use and environmental sustainability. All of these practices are verified twice per year by both USDA-approved auditors and a representative of Progressive Beef. This progressive cattle management system heightens accountability and live animal transparency.The following year, Tyson began using DNA Traceback® by IdentiGEN for its Open Prairie® Natural* Meats brand to trace beef from the ranch of origin to the restaurant or retailer where it is sold. DNA traceability can be thought of as nature's bar code and can trace product back to its place of origin at any point in the supply chain. DNA Traceback is the backbone of trust for the Open Prairie Natural Meats program. For those consumers who want to find out more about how to pinpoint the birthplace of each animal, the Trusted PathTM program gives them the reason to believe.In addition, Tyson is working to verify sustainable beef production practices on more than 5 million acres of cattle grazing land in the U.S. This would be the largest beef transparency program in the U.S., and part of Tyson Foods' focus on sustainably feeding the world while taking care of people, planet and animals. Working with Where Food Comes BY BARBARA MASTERS, VP REGULATORY POLICY, FOOD AND AGRICULTURE AND JENNIFER WILLIAMS, VICE PRESIDENT FOR FSQA, FRESH MEATS, TYSON FOODSADVANTAGES OF TRACEABILITY BEYOND CONNECTING CONSUMERS TO THEIR FOOD
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