How Do GS1 Standards Enable Traceability for Enhanced Food Safety?

Unique identification of products and the standardized exchange of data about those products enable companies to be prepared for quick and precise recalls.

Businesses, trade associations, industry groups, and regulatory agencies are collaborating to drive consumer confidence in food safety. GS1 US® works with all of these stakeholders to enable product traceability and food safety using GS1 Standards.

Fresh Foods Management Solution

5 Steps to improved traceability and related benefits

View the solution

Videos

See the value of traceability in foodservice and retail grocery. Video (30 sec.) >
Watch and follow an avocado from field to restaurant and hear how IPC/Subway, a member of the Foodservice GS1 US Standards Initiative, is benefiting from the use of GS1 Standards within its supply chain network. Video (2:11 min.) >
Improving Traceability and Food Safety with GS1 Standards Video (4:40 min.) >
GS1 Standards in Action Video for Fresh Foods Video (6:56 min.) >

Food Safety Resources

See the value of traceability in foodservice and retail grocery. Video (30 sec.) >
Watch and follow an avocado from field to restaurant and hear how IPC/Subway, a member of the Foodservice GS1 US Standards Initiative, is benefiting from the use of GS1 Standards within its supply chain network. Video (2:11 min.) >
Improving Traceability and Food Safety with GS1 Standards Video (4:40 min.) >
GS1 Standards in Action Video for Fresh Foods Video (6:56 min.) >
Tyson Foods Case Study
Dine Equity and McLane Case Study
Implementation Roadmap for GS1-128 Barcodes on Retail Grocery Cases PDF (2 MB) >
Explore the Benefits of GS1 Standards in the Fresh Foods Supply Chain PDF (607 KB) >
Explore Critical Tracking Events (CTEs) and Key Data Elements (KDEs) PDF (850 KB) >
Foodservice Implementation Guideline for Case-Level Traceability Using GS1 Standards PDF (1 MB) >
GS1 Standards in Action booklet for Fresh Foods PDF (1.9 MB) >
Download the GS1 US comments to the FDA on the Institute of Food Technologists traceability recommendations in support of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). PDF (660 KB) >

Articles

The Romaine Lettuce Recall — Why We Need To Work Together Yesterday To Improve Food Traceability. View web page from Southeast Produce Weekly >
Blockchain Separating Fact from Fiction. View web page from Food Safety Tech >
How to Achieve Faster, More Precise Recalls View web page from Manufacturing Business Technology >

View all articles and press releases

Industry collaboration

Go to the Global Food Traceability Center
Go to the Produce Traceability Initiative
Go to Rapid Recall Express^®

Questions? Contact retailgrocery@gs1us.org or foodservice@gs1us.org.

GS1 Standards for Food Traceability Certificate Course

This online course will help you learn the key principles and best practices used for case-level traceability and how these practices can be implemented by your company and your trading partners.

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