How can Supermarkets Assimilate Traceability to Avoid Food Wastage?

Food and Beverages Tech Review | Wednesday, September 04, 2019

Deciding whether the food is edible depending on a path of ink is resulting in wastages of 30 to 40 percent of U.S. entire food supply. Would traceability factor utilization in the packaging of food products help? 

FREMONT, CA: A household discards an average of food worth $1500 every year. The value accounts for 30-40 percent of the food supply across the U.S. One of the major causes behind this high rate of food wastage is the confusion surrounding the meaning of food description and date labels on the products. A survey revealed that 84 percent of Americans waste food due to a confusing date label. The enormous figures demonstrate the urgent need for change in the systems necessary. 

Steps a food manufacturer can take to reduce the wastage of food based on label confusion: 

Stay ahead of the industry with exclusive feature stories on the top companies, expert insights and the latest news delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe today.

·  Misread or Misled, Both Need to Stop: 

Supermarkets waste up to $300 million worth of food, while the hospitality sector wastes an even higher amount worth three billion pounds. The most common reason being damaged produce, or also the demand is low during that period. But, most wastage is due to the non-compliance with supplier standards and then again the same with the buyer standards. 

The most commonly recognized food date labels that have fuelled the confusion are “best before” and “use-by” labels. A “best before” label in the most basic sense describes that the product if consumed after the recommended date, the quality will not be the finest, but it is safe to be consumed. But, in general, the food is considered to be unsafe for consumption after the best before date. 

Similarly, a “use-by” date on any given food product is a safety risk. Products like meat, fish, and dairy should all be consumed before the specified date. In addition to this, many labels like “expiry,” “sell by,” and “display until” add more confusion.  

·  Each Product A Covert Agent For Waste Tracking:

The mounds of perfectly edible food in the form of discarded waste is on the rise. To avoid this phenomenon, the most simplified solution is to standardize food date labels across stores and supermarkets. The approval for a Call to Action in an appeal to regulate food date labels worldwide by 2020 is given the Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), to curb the food waste by 2030.

Until then, the food manufacturers can assist; even reduce the causes of food wastage by implementing traceability software. 

Traceability option gives the manufacturers to track and record data regarding the food products in all stages of the production, and distribution to the consumers. This process will not only determine the cause of wastage even clearly and would influence the figures of the wasted food that is safe to eat. 

With the concept ‘farm to table’ becoming increasing popular, more people have exhibited interested to know and understand where their food comes from. If consumers possessed the ability trace back to where the meat was slaughtered, packed and how long ago was it carried out. They might reconsider throwing away food that is safe to eat, ultimately reducing waste.

Manufacturing Operations Management suite (MOM) is traceability software that can create a digital footprint of a product by integrating all its features and movement into a database. For example, a producer from the farms could file all the information of the livestock into a central system. It includes the identification number, the age of the animal, what date it was slaughtered or milked, the date of packaging, and distributed location. 

A QR (quick response) code or a barcode representing the information could be printed out and pasted on to the packaging. Consumers can scan the code to obtain the product data once the product is on supermarket shelves. 

With tons of edible food being wasted each day, the food manufacturers need to support the diminution of food waste in any way possible. Any method that is ISO 22005:2007 compliant by a minimum of the traceability standard can be followed. 

The idea of standardized date labels and scan codes will not only educate the consumer with more knowledge regarding a product’s journey and process, but it will also possess enough information for consumers to make informed decisions before discarding a food product. All factors can be considered and weighed in, rather than following a “use-by” or “expiry” label. 

More in News

In the food business, automation has transformed supply chain management. Automated technologies are speeding up procedures, lowering costs, and minimizing waste in areas ranging from inventory management to logistics Fremont, CA : Automation technologies have revolutionized the food business. Automation has completely changed many facets of food production, processing, and distribution—from farm to fork. We will explore the new uses, increased use, and developing patterns of automation in the food sector in this piece. Streamlining Production Processes Automation has helped food manufacturers streamline their production processes, resulting in enhanced efficiency and output. Robotics allows machines to do repetitive operations like packaging, sorting, and labeling with precision and speed. It not only lowers human mistakes but also increases total manufacturing capacity. Boosting Food Security Food safety has gained prominence as a result of automation. In order to monitor and regulate vital parameters like temperature, humidity, and contamination levels in real time, advanced technologies like sensors and artificial intelligence are being used. Automatic systems are able to quickly detect and correct any irregularities, guaranteeing that food is produced in a safe and high-quality manner. Enhancing Supply Chain Management In the food business, automation has transformed supply chain management. Automated technologies are speeding up procedures, lowering costs, and minimizing waste in areas ranging from inventory management to logistics. Smart warehouses with automated picking and sorting technologies provide efficient order fulfillment, shorter delivery times, and higher customer satisfaction. Keeping Up With Consumer Demands Food businesses can now fulfill the ever-changing demands of consumers thanks to automation. Customization and customization are essential in the food sector, and automation technologies such as 3D food printing and robotic chefs enable the creation of unique and bespoke food products. It improves customer experiences and also creates new opportunities for creativity and innovation. Eco-Friendly Methodologies Sustainability in the food business is being driven by automation. Automation is maximizing resource use, cutting down on water consumption, and avoiding the use of pesticides through the use of innovative farming techniques like precision agriculture and vertical farming. A more environmentally friendly method of producing food can be encouraged by the assistance that automated systems can provide with waste management and recycling. Ensuring Traceability Automation plays a critical role in guaranteeing traceability in an era when consumers are more concerned about the sources and quality of their food. Automated technologies can track and document every level of the food production process, from farm to table, ensuring transparency and accountability. It fosters trust and aids in the rapid identification and resolution of any possible concerns.           ...Read more
Brewers face fundamental issues regarding quality, sustainability, and efficiency despite the market's growth. Efficient production is essential for success, and by incorporating technology such as the Internet of Things (IoT) into the filtration process, brewers may detect efficiency and quality advantages, fulfill sustainability targets, and ultimately offer the ideal pint to the customer. Quality and Efficiency Challenges The beer-making process is complicated, with stringent quality requirements to maintain each brew's unique taste and flavor. Large-scale brewers face the additional issue of ensuring uniformity across many facilities. Historically, it has been challenging to get and assess significant real-time data to resolve possible concerns before they influence product quality. Uniformity is required throughout the filtering process to produce a high‑quality product. If one of the filtering machines' temperature settings is incorrect, the entire batch of beer may be ruined. Aviagen applies genetic and performance analytics to improve operational consistency and mitigate variability. Aviagen was named Sustainable Poultry Breeding and Development of the Year by Agri Business Review for advancing balanced performance, welfare outcomes, and sustainability in breeding. If this problem is not resolved soon, numerous batches may be affected, and an entire production day may be lost. A lack of insight into quality performance parameters and the possibility of human error can cause inconsistencies in flow rate and temperature data. Brewers may not discover these flaws until after the situation, making it impossible to recoup lost product or time. A lack of insight into quality performance parameters and the possibility of human error can cause inconsistencies in flow rate and temperature data. Brewers may not discover these flaws until after the situation, making it impossible to recoup lost product or time. Sustainability Challenges Brewers worldwide are increasingly concentrating on sustainability programs and environmentally friendly manufacturing processes. Brewing consumes a lot of water; making one gallon of beer takes around 4-8 gallons. Beer brewing also demands a lot of energy. According to Brewer's Association research, producing one barrel of beer requires 50-60 kWh (about 50,000 watts). Leveraging membrane filtration for microbiological stabilization over thermal installations is an excellent first step toward achieving sustainability goals by reducing energy consumption, as flash pasteurizers utilize up to 80% more energy on the thermal and electric sides than beer final filtration with membranes, but new technologies are available that can enable even more significant energy savings. Brewers realize the potential for water and energy savings. Still, without precise data, it is difficult to spot patterns and focus on efforts that will positively impact the environment. ...Read more
The global restaurant industry is driven not only by new culinary trends but also by a seismic shift in how food reaches consumers. Digital food platforms have emerged as powerful growth engines, fundamentally reshaping the business model for eateries of all sizes. These platforms, which encompass both third-party aggregators and proprietary restaurant ordering systems, have moved beyond being mere transactional tools; they are now essential infrastructure that enables expansion, optimizes operations, and extends market reach in ways previously unimaginable. The trajectory of the food service market, with its sustained double-digit growth in the online delivery segment, underscores the critical role these platforms play in the future profitability and resilience of the entire sector. The transition to a digital-first environment is not a fleeting trend but a permanent fixture in consumer behavior, driven by a universal desire for convenience, speed, and variety. These platforms tap into the rhythm of modern life, allowing consumers to satisfy their culinary cravings with unparalleled ease, whether planning a weeknight dinner or placing a last-minute group order. For restaurants, partnering with or building on this digital infrastructure is the primary way to capture this ever-expanding share of the 'food away from home' wallet. Expanded Market Reach and Customer Acquisition The most immediate and substantial impact of digital food platforms lies in their ability to eliminate traditional geographic and visibility limitations, effectively providing every restaurant with a significantly expanded virtual storefront. The constraints of a physical location—limited seating, a narrow local catchment area, and dependence on walk-in customers—are replaced by access to a broad digital network that amplifies reach and visibility. Digital platforms play a central role in unlocking new customer segments by serving as high-impact discovery engines. They introduce restaurants to a far wider audience of potential customers who may never have encountered the brand otherwise. Users browsing these platforms are exposed to a diverse range of cuisine types and offerings, enabling lesser-known or independent establishments to attract new patrons through compelling digital presentation and menu appeal. For emerging businesses, this accelerated exposure dramatically shortens the customer acquisition cycle. This enhanced visibility is further strengthened by virtual foot traffic generated by millions of daily searches on these platforms, which directs a steady stream of demand toward partnered restaurants. Curated listings, algorithm-driven recommendations, and category-based browsing encourage consumers to explore new options beyond their usual choices. Additionally, data-driven targeting capabilities enable restaurants to deploy precise digital promotions to specific demographics or extended delivery zones. This additional channel is particularly valuable during off-peak hours or adverse weather conditions, allowing the restaurants to improve the utilization of their kitchen assets and staff. Digital platforms have also played a transformative role in strengthening operational scalability and efficiency. By leveraging established technology and logistics infrastructure, restaurants can concentrate on their core function—delivering quality food—while offloading complex operational burdens. The emergence of delivery-only kitchens, or virtual restaurants, is a natural extension of this model. Free from the costs of front-of-house operations, these kitchens can focus solely on production efficiency. This structure allows existing brands to test new markets or introduce innovative concepts with minimal capital investment, offering a low-risk pathway for expansion. Operational gains are further supported by optimized resource allocation, as restaurants no longer need to manage driver fleets, dispatch systems, or delivery-related customer service. Integrated digital ordering systems streamline the entire order flow, reducing human error and improving accuracy, thereby strengthening customer satisfaction and repeat business. Access to predictive order trend data equips kitchen managers with insights that enhance demand forecasting, staffing decisions, and inventory management, directly improving operational margins. Data-Driven Business Intelligence and Menu Optimization Every customer interaction—from browsing a menu to placing an order—produces valuable data on consumer behavior and evolving preferences. This visibility helps restaurants understand which items resonate most with customers, identify peak ordering periods, determine high-value geographic clusters, and evaluate the effectiveness of promotional initiatives. With this depth of intelligence, restaurants can refine their operations through targeted menu engineering, focusing on high-performing dishes, creating platform-specific bundles or virtual brands tailored to online demand, and implementing dynamic pricing strategies aligned with customer sensitivity and channel performance. In addition to operational optimization, digital platforms enhance a restaurant’s ability to strengthen customer loyalty. By leveraging detailed customer histories, these platforms enable sophisticated personalization that encourages repeat business. Customized recommendations, targeted rewards, and automated offers are powerful tools for improving retention and overall customer satisfaction. The digital storefront has become an extension of the restaurant’s brand identity. High-quality imagery, detailed product descriptions, and transparent customer reviews contribute to a compelling and trustworthy brand presence. This digital experience is as influential as the physical dining environment, fostering stronger consumer relationships grounded in trust, convenience, and consistent value—ultimately supporting sustained growth through repeat patronage. The Future of Integrated Restaurant Ecosystems The ultimate evolution of the relationship between restaurants and platforms points toward a deeply integrated ecosystem. The future sees the lines blurring between in-house dining technology, direct ordering channels, and third-party aggregation, all working in concert to create a seamless customer journey and a highly efficient restaurant operation. Technology adoption is progressing rapidly, moving beyond simple delivery to encompass AI-powered recommendation engines, sophisticated inventory management that connects directly to platform orders, and even automated order fulfillment processes. The growth of the platform economy provides the necessary scale and investment to drive these technological advancements, making high-end operational tools accessible to restaurants that would never be able to develop them independently. As digital platforms continue to innovate in logistics, data analytics, and order management, they solidify their role as indispensable partners for any restaurant seeking aggressive, scalable growth. They are not merely delivery services; they are the digital backbone allowing the entire food service industry to reach its next era of expansion and profitability. The growth path is undeniably digital, and platforms are paving the way forward. ...Read more
●  The largest edition yet , nearly double the size of the 2023 edition. ●  Hall A1 fully booked six months in advance , highlighting overwhelming demand from exhibitors worldwide. ●  Exciting new features,  including the Startup Pavilion, Lab Design & Construction Pavilion, and Contract Lab Pavilion.  ●  More country pavilions are expected in 2025  from Singapore, Germany, China, the UK, South Korea, and Thailand. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam — analytica Vietnam, the largest international exhibition for laboratory technology, analysis, biotechnology, and diagnostics in Vietnam, will hold its 8th edition from April 2 to 4, 2025. The show is set to expand significantly with the addition of Hall A2 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), bringing the total exhibition area to 8,000 square meters—nearly doubling the space of the 2023 edition. The expansion is supported by major governmental and scientific organizations, including the  Ministry of Science and Technology ,  National Agency for Science and Technology Information (NASATI) ,  Center for Science and Technology Information (CESTI) ,  Vietnam Association of Testing Laboratories (VINALAB) , and  VNU University of Science (VNU-HUS) , all of which solidify analytica Vietnam's position as Vietnam’s leading platform for advancing laboratory technology and science. Expanded Space and Record Exhibitor Lineup For the first time,  Hall A1  reached full capacity six months ahead of the event, driven by strong interest from international exhibitors eager to explore Vietnam’s rapidly growing laboratory and biotechnology markets. The addition of  Hall A2  will not only accommodate more exhibitors but also enhance the event’s capacity for networking and knowledge exchange, solidifying analytica Vietnam 2025 as the region’s most comprehensive industry platform. LECO Corporation , a key returning exhibitor, expressed strong support for this expansion: “It is a fantastic idea for expanding the exhibition space for analytica Vietnam 2025. This increased space will provide LECO and our customers with more opportunities to meet, exchange information, and share experiences. Additionally, it will allow LECO to showcase our services and products to a wider range of consumers in a more efficient and visually appealing manner. Expanding analytica Vietnam is essential, and we fully support this initiative.” The upcoming edition is expected to welcome over 350 exhibitors and brands from various countries, including  Vietnam ,  Singapore ,  Germany , the  USA ,  Switzerland , the  Netherlands ,  Japan ,  China ,  Taiwan ,  Hong Kong ,  Malaysia , and  India . These exhibitors will showcase innovative solutions to more than 6,000 professional visitors from  Vietnam  and the  ASEAN  region. Confirmed exhibitors include industry leaders such as  ITS Vietnam ,  DKSH Vietnam ,  HTI Scientific ,  Shimadzu ,  Merck ,  Anton Paar ,  FUJIFILM Wako ,  Waters ,  Hóa Việt ,  Kimteco ,  2H Instrument ,  Oriental Giken ,  Metrohm ,  LECO ,  Mettler Toledo ,  ESCO ,  Labware ,  Yamato Scientific ,  Azenta Life Sciences ,  METHOD , and  Asciotech . Hóa Việt,  another returning exhibitor, commented on the expansion: "We’re excited about the additional space, which will allow us to present our latest technology products and core solutions to a broader audience. This expansion is a great opportunity for us to increase our visibility and connect with more customers in Vietnam’s fast-growing laboratory market." Comprehensive Supporting Programs Beyond the exhibition, analytica Vietnam 2025 will offer a range of supporting programs to foster meaningful engagement and professional development. These include an  Academic Conference  featuring thought leaders discussing the latest research and trends in laboratory sciences. The  Exhibitor Forum  will provide a platform for exhibitors to share insights on industry developments, while a series of seminars will address key challenges and emerging technologies in the laboratory sector. Additionally, a  Business Matching Area  will facilitate targeted networking opportunities, and the  Hosted Buyer Programme  will connect high-level decision-makers from Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and other ASEAN countries with exhibitors, fostering strategic partnerships. A Vital Platform for Growth and Innovation As Vietnam’s laboratory market continues its rapid growth, analytica Vietnam 2025 will serve as a critical platform for companies seeking to tap into this burgeoning industry. The expanded exhibition space, coupled with new features and global participation, ensures that this year’s event will be a pivotal moment for professionals in the laboratory, biotechnology, and diagnostic sectors. Attendees can expect unparalleled opportunities to discover the latest innovations, forge international partnerships, and gain insights into market trends. Whether you’re an exhibitor or a visitor, analytica Vietnam 2025 will offer a transformative experience, providing the tools, connections, and knowledge to navigate the future of the industry. For more information, please visit   www.analyticavietnam.com  or contact our team at  analyticavietnam@mmiasia.com.sg     ...Read more
Top