CHICAGO — The Institute of Food Technologists has established the Global Food Traceability Center designed to protect and improve the global food supply. Noting there is currently no single entity, public or private, that brings together key stakeholders in the farm-to-table food system to collaborate on providing timely product tracing solutions, the I.F.T. said the traceability center will serve as an unbiased source of information on the topic.

“We will create a focal point where industry, academic institutions, government, foundations and consumer groups can discuss, collaborate, conduct research, adopt best practices and implement practical and actionable traceability solutions for the food system,” said Barbara Byrd Keenan, I.F.T. executive vice-president.

The formation of the center is the result of three traceability research summits the I.F.T. held in 2011. The summits were a part of the Traceability Improvement Initiative (T.I.I.) launched by the I.F.T. with seed funding support from BASF Chemical Co., Underwriters Laboratories, and the National Fisheries Institute.

Founding sponsors for the Global Food Traceability Center include Cargill, the Food Marketing Institute, GS1 US, International Association for Food Protection, Intertek Group, Lyngsoe Systems, Mars Inc., National Fisheries Institute, Produce Marketing Association, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., and the University of Guelph.
To learn more about the Global Food Traceability Center, visit its web site at www.globalfoodtraceability.org.