According to the FSA, the competition will fund collaborative research and development projects as well as smaller feasibility studies, aimed at providing safe and healthy foods.

The FSA has also stated that funding will be made available for the efficient and robust tracking and monitoring of food, feed, food-producing animals or substances for consumption.

As outlined on the FSA website, of particular interest to the Agency are the following areas as set out in the Food Safety, Authenticity and Traceability section of the scope of requirements:

- Identification of the presence or levels of pathogens, contaminants or allergens.

- Implementing processing methods throughout the food chain to improve quality assurance, so reducing health risks to the consumer.

- Enabling quick and reliable determination of products or ingredients, country of origin, method of production, or the presence of adulterants or substituted or undeclard ingredients.

- Enabling efficient and robust tracking and monitoring of food, feed, food-producing animals or substances intended for consumption.

Click here to read the competition brief.

- UK consumer trust in the Food industry has dropped by 24%.

- 30% of shoppers are buying less processed meat.

- 24% are buying fewer ready meals containing meat.

- 68% think the government should increase focus on enforcing labelling laws.

- 47% are doubtful that the ingredient information contained on food labels is accurate.

Which? has urged the UK government to rapidly take the following steps to improve detection and enforcement and restore consumer confidence:

1. Increased, better coordinated surveillance, including recommendations on how the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and local authorities can best collaborate.
2. Tougher enforcement and the scrapping of proposals to decriminalise non-compliance with food labelling legislation.
3. Tighter legislation to compel the food industry to improve traceability and product testing. This would include extending the FSA’s powers to investigate and reporting on testing practices and results.
4. Improved food labelling and a push for EU wide country-of-origin labelling for processed meat used in meat products and ready meals.
5. Return food labelling policy to the FSA.

“Ministers must ensure that everyone involved, including their own departments, the FSA, the food industry and local authorities are crystal clear about their responsibility to protect consumers and are properly equipped to do so.”

Richard Lloyd, Which? Executive Director

 “Smarter Rules for Safer Food”

To protect against food fraud, the European Commission has proposed reduced legislation (from 70 pieces of legislation to just 5), increased unannounced inspections and tougher fines equal to the economic gain of the violation. It is proposed that in the future, the Commission will also have the authority to bind member states to carry out testing rather than just make recommendations for testing.

“We know that the horse meat scandal was not a question of food safety, but it was a question of deliberate, fraudulent labelling to make economic gain because in most countries horse meat is cheaper than beef.”

Tonio Borg, EU Health Commissioner

The latest version of SoftTrace MilkData incorporates a new Supplier Dashboard designed to provide managers – at a glance – with comprehensive and actionable data on overall individual supplier quality results with quick links to a suite of reports and enquiries.

The Supplier Dashboard is completely user configurable with drag and drop functionality to display individual supplier test results for a selected period alongside collection data.

From within the dashboard there are options to, for example:

• View batches: the original supplier batch.
• Supplier edit: automatically access the relevant supplier maintenance screen.
• View volume Information: view additional volume information such as total volume for the specified period, average temperature and collection data.
• View herd investigation results: all of a supplier’s herd testing samples and results for the specified period.
• Sample reception scans: view the log of samples received for the supplier during the specified period and the tests scheduled.
• Averages: view the simple average for all numeric test results over the specified period.
• Geometric Enquiry: automatically access the supplier’s geometric enquiry to view the current geometric and a forecast of the upcoming geometric mean.

Contact us for a full list of features and benefits.

Animal Disease Testing

Since May 2011, Glanbia Central Laboratory Dungarvan has been using SoftTrace MilkData to support its competitively priced disease testing service. The objective of Glanbia’s herd screening service is to proactively determine and track disease risk on the farm and establish the current herd health status via screening for BVD, IBR, leptospirosis, johnes disease, neospora canium, salmonella, river fluke, rumen fluke, stomach worms, mastitis bacteriology and schmallenberg virus.

To meet the analysis and communication demands of the service, SoftTrace collaborated with Glanbia personnel and customised the SoftTrace MilkData module to facilitate evaluating and reporting on bulk sample test results (screened at predetermined intervals) along with supplier herd vaccination history and current status.  The disease screening test results imported from Glanbia’s milk management system – Bainne – are monitored and validated using MilkData and a test report is provided to suppliers, farm advisors and veterinary practitioners via email, SMS messaging, fax or post.

Contact us for full details.

Courses

SoftTrace Weighbridge

• Configuring products.
• Configuring sources, drivers etc.
• Reconciling weighbridge loads.
• Managing silo allocation
• Managing the link to laboratory testing.
• Managing the link to individual supplier results.
• Maximising your use of Weighbridge Enquiries and Reports.

SoftTrace MilkData

• Supplier and test maintenance.
• Sample reception / sample scanning.
• Instrument integration.
• Instrument calibration.
• Internal supplier test scheduling.
• Managing SMS messaging.
• Managing farm quality monitoring.
• Maximising your use of MilkData Enquiries and Reports.
• Configuring and customising the Supplier Dashboard.

SoftTrace LIMS

• Configuring tests, test specifications and analysis groups.
• Entering test results (input by test).
• Managing test methods.
• Configuring calculation formulae / test forms.
• Configuring user templates.
• Certificates of analysis.
• Instrument integration.
• Instrument calibration.
• Effluent monitoring.
• Maximising your use of LIMS Enquiries and Reports.

SoftTrace In-Process

• Configuring production makesheets.
• Configuring products.
• Logging production values and manufacturing data.
• Automatic data capture.
• Effluent monitoring.
• Maximising your use of In-Process Enquiries and Reports.

SoftTrace Inventory Management

• Product grading.
• Managing picklists and dispatches.
• Managing stock transfers.
• Sales order processing.
• Barcode scanning.
• Maximising your use of Inventory Management Enquiries and Reports.

Contact us to discuss your company’s specifc training requirements.

Before you embark on a project to optimise your company’s traceability and quality management capabilities, make sure you have specific, achievable objectives in mind and prioritise them in a way that aligns your food traceability system with your business processes and requirements:

• Adopt an approach of continuous improvement.
• Continuously monitor and gather information about food safety developments that may affect your business.
• Keep up-to-date with regulatory changes and developments.
• Evaluate your quality management and traceability systems and procedures in the context of the external environment.
• Evaluate new technologies and systems designed to enhance food safety and traceability, in particular those that deliver additional benefits such as improved product quality, production efficiencies, reduced wastage etc.
• Focus on achieving supply chain improvements and continuously review the sources of raw materials and ingredients.
• Develop a clear indication of the added value that will be generated via enhanced traceability and an estimation of ROI.
• Select and implement appropriate technologies.

Eliminating Traceability Gaps

Eliminating traceability gaps in your manufacturing process requires the seamless integration of quality management and traceability data with laboratory process, process automation and ERP systems into a single, enterprise-wide solution.

That solution needs to add up to a plant-wide traceability data collection and management system that provides full product traceability and effortless, instant access to all data – forward and backward – from any point in the traceability chain:

• An unbroken traceability chain between raw material sources and active ingredient inventory to quality control and release into the manufacturing process.
• Extension of the traceability chain from raw materials and ingredients to the in-process batches, bulk finished product and finished goods inventory.
• A real-time, integrated link with in-process quality control data from the plant floor.
• Integrated bulk finished goods and packing line data with instant access to detailed quality information on batches of bulk finished product and packed finished product units.
• A secure food production traceability chain that links the process control sheets, packing and inventory records, provides a profile of the quality and grade of all finished goods to individual pack level, and maintains unit level traceability to the customer.

What’s Your Next Step?

Hesitation in implementing an effective traceability system is a mistake and a lost opportunity. The brand protection and operational implications of inaction are high. In response to consumer concerns and the emergence of new food safety hazards, legislative and retailer pressure will undoubtedly grow.

Let SoftTrace Help

Of course, developing a traceability programme and strategy can be complex, which is why it is important to work with food industry software specialists capable of helping you:

• Develop a clear picture of the food safety and traceability challenges your company faces.
• Evaluate your supply chain risks and develop strategies to secure them.
• Map major issues with possible solutions.
• Develop a clear vision of the advantages of electronic traceability and optimal data integration.
• Explore opportunities for collaboration between available technology systems.
• Develop a clear indication of the added value that will be generated via enhanced traceability and an estimation of ROI.
• Select and implement appropriate technologies.

Contact Us for more information on our food traceability software and services. We can arrange a traceability gap analysis and ROI survey at your facility for a time that suits you.

Food traceability software systems that adopt a generic best practice approach require a substantial investment in time and money to adapt to industry-specific processes and may require extensive custom development to meet your specific needs. Adapting your processes to match an inflexible software solution means you risk a potential compromise on operational efficiency.

•  Choose flexible software specifically developed with food traceability in mind.
• Choose a vendor with food industry expertise.
• Make sure the traceability software can be easily and cost-effectively configured to your business rules and manufacturing processes.

An Adaptable Solution to Meet Emerging Needs

Your business is subject to constant and rapid change. Seek software with the flexibility to easily adapt to your current and emerging needs with little additional cost.

A Vendor with Food Industry Knowledge

Choose a system supported by a vendor with broad food industry knowledge, a real grasp of the business challenges facing your organisation and a thorough understanding of your end-user needs. This will contribute significantly to ensuring you implement a traceability solution that truly meets your current and future requirements.

Integrated Quality Management

A LIMS system, seamlessly integrated with the tracking of material and equipment, will effectively manage the batch relationship between raw materials, process materials and packaged goods. It will ensure that quality and traceability data can be easily tracked and retrieved to meet your food company’s complex data storage, retrieval and auditing needs, by integrating quality data at plant level with all other operational areas.

Data Handling

Choose traceability software that can handle data to sub-batch level, track by quantity and batch code and hold a data profile on each batch down to operator level.

Anything short of this and the result is a deficient data link between the bulk finished products and their physical packing. It also means a lack of real-time quality validation.

In cases where a number of ingredients are used in blended and processed foods, the software solution chosen must record transformations in identifiable units where raw materials are collected and mixed in bulk from multiple suppliers.

Data Access

Ensure the system is capable of providing you with the precise enquiries and reports you need to maximise the additional benefits to be derived from it.

Integration with 3^rd Party Systems

Bear in mind the integration options available within your chosen traceability solution. Ideally, it should seamlessly integrate with your existing IT infrastructure – with your ERP, process automation and other equipment and systems throughout the manufacturing process – to make full use of existing data capture capabilities and safeguard your return from current technology investments.

Implementation and Deployment

Ensure that your chosen vendor is able to demonstrate their ability to deliver the required traceability solution on time and on budget and efficiently configure it to meet your specific requirements. Make sure they have a history of implementations within the food industry and a proven track record of projects of similar focus and scope.

Most food processors realise that proof of traceability is rapidly becoming a minimum standard for doing business. The tracking of raw materials, ingredients and contact materials to shipped finished product (internal traceability) is fundamental to achieving external traceability throughout the food supply chain. This is creating both challenges and opportunities for forward looking processors.

Some companies may not survive the pressure from regulators, customers and consumers. Others will suffer significant losses as they struggle with basic challenges such as supplier tracking, data collection and reporting to meet audit requirements. Or they may get swept up by larger competitors. For those companies burdened with inadequate systems it is a difficult time during which operational adjustments will be a prerequisite to the effective exploitation of available technology.

However, the food traceability challenge presents a great opportunity for forward-thinking processors prepared to leverage the right technology for competitive advantage.

To meet the traceability challenge food processors must be able to quickly identify and track all raw materials and ingredients in finished products from receiving through processing, packing, storage and finished product dispatch to the customer. To achieve high levels of quality, optimal operational performance and profitability the traceability system implemented ideally needs to incorporate integrated quality management, non-conformance, preventative actions and statistical process control capabilities.

How a company meets the challenge is largely up to them depending on their precise traceability objectives, company size, raw materials and ingredients use, supply chain complexity and products manufactured.

What is appropriate for one food business may not be appropriate for another. There are many options available and therein lies the challenge.

Where do your food traceability weaknesses lie?

If your traceability isn’t measuring up, it’s time to put a project team together and do something about it.

TRACEABILITY GAPS – in areas such as raw materials / ingredients receiving, quality control, process manufacturing, packing and the supply chain – may be limiting your crisis management and product recall capabilities.

Areas of weakness in your manufacturing facility may include:

• Inefficient collection, storage and interpretation of traceability data.
• A negligible degree of data integration and considerable reliance on paper-driven systems with the risk of error and little flexibility.
• A lack of integration between your intake measurement system and inventory records, plant automation data, quality management and traceability system. This results in a lack of real-time validation and control and a negative impact on your ability to achieve traceability from raw material receiving to the manufacturing process.
• Key manufacturing and packing data held in data silos and manual records unsuited to the task to extending traceability from raw materials receiving and the in-process batches to the bulk finished product and packing line data.
• Minimal integration between in-process and packing with heavy reliance on manual recording and validation procedures that are cumbersome and error prone.
• No central quality management system capable of handling data to sub-batch level and tracking product movements by quantity and batch code.
• No real-time quality validation limiting your real-time response levels to potential hazards.
• No real-time integration between dispatch and in-process data making it difficult to quickly trace a product from the customer back to the raw material sources.

SoftTrace has seen a lot of food manufacturing facilities in our ten years in business and every site is different. We have the expertise to know what to look for. We can review your existing systems and identify areas of your production, quality management and supply processes requiring attention. We’ll provide you with a full report and detailed recommendations on how you can achieve optimal data integration and a cost effective traceability system for your facility.

Achieving Basic Traceability

To avoid implementing an overly complex or costly system, food processors need to determine the crucial information necessary to meet their particular business needs, food safety, traceability and recall management objectives. The best traceability system in any business is one that fits into the normal working practices of the business and facilitates efficient data collection and access.

Whatever your identified needs and objectives, at their most basic traceability systems have four key elements:

• Raw materials: identify and track the source of all raw materials, ingredients and contact materials.
• Process: the processing history on all raw materials, ingredients and contact materials.
• Customer: dispatch information on shipped finished product.
• Data management: efficient traceability data recording, maintenance and reporting.

Achieving Full Electronic Traceability

The key to traceability, rapid response and crisis management is speedy access to all relevant data. To be able to deal with traceability issues other than the most trivial, an efficient software solution is needed. The implementation of a fully integrated traceability software solution is becoming a necessity for any food company.

Achieving full end-to-end traceability is dependent upon creating the physical and operational conditions necessary for enforcing validation and quality rules and maintaining the traceability data chain. Ideally, it means using available technology to seamlessly integrate traceability data, make it error proof and ensure that it can be effortlessly accessed in real-time.

Demonstrable traceability, rapid response and product recall capabilities are crucial to gaining a competitive advantage.

Meeting current traceability and food safety challenges demands a previously unprecedented level of information management throughout all operational areas. It means creating the physical and operational conditions necessary for enforcing validation and quality rules and using available technology to effortlessly access traceability data in real-time and support complex grade allocation and audit challenges.

In many of today’s food manufacturing facilities, the degree of data integration and lot specific information necessary for end-to-end traceability does not exist. Typical areas of concern include:

•  A lack of real-time yield and quality profile on raw materials and ingredients. This critically undermines a company’s rapid response capabilities.
• A lack of integration between the intake measurement system and the ERP’s stock records, plant automation data, quality management and traceability system. This results in a lack of real-time validation and control.
• Key manufacturing data held in disparate systems and manual records.
• No central quality management system handling data to sub-batch level and tracking product movements by quantity and batch code. This results in a deficient data link between bulk finished products and their physical packing.
• A lack of real-time quality validation to ensure that the traceability chain remains intact and cannot be compromised.

SoftTrace: an integrated traceability and quality management solution

The SoftTrace suite of software modules has been developed to address the Food industry’s quality, traceability, product safety, yield, and risk management challenges.

SoftTrace seamlessly integrates all critical quality, manufacturing and business data to guarantee bi-directional traceability from raw material intake through in-process to finished goods, storage and dispatch. This is achieved by focusing at plant level to track and integrate all relevant data and manage quality in real-time throughout the process.

SoftTrace’s capabilities are proven in the field. Customers in Ireland, UK and USA include Kerry Group, Glanbia, Lakeland Dairies, Pritichitts, Dairygold, Arrabawn, Carbery, FMC BioPolymer and Irish Dairy Board.

At customers’ facilities the SoftTrace Weighbridge, MilkData and LIMS modules control and trace all raw materials released into the process. Data from milk tankers is imported into MilkData for verification against weighbridge loads. MilkData maintains a full profile of farm collection, compositional analysis and farmer payment data. This is integrated with data captured by the Weighbridge module to complete intake reconciliation and track milk into silo batches. Full integration with SoftTrace LIMS provides real-time access to tanker and silo analysis data for determining process / product suitability.

Integration with the In-Process module extends traceability to the in-process batches and bulk finished product. Integration with the Inventory Management module establishes an electronic link between the process control, packing, quality and inventory records and provides traceability on finished goods to pack and pallet level. The Inventory Management module holds a quality and grading profile of finished goods inventories to sub-batch level. Traceability to the customer is maintained to unit level – completing the electronic traceability chain from source to customer.

A modular system to meet a range of requirements & budgets

SoftTrace is a modular system designed to grow with each customer’s business needs. It integrates with process automation and ERP systems and with existing hardware (weighbridges, barcode printers, analytical instruments etc) to ensure users leverage any investments made to date. While SoftTrace can be implemented as a standalone system, greater benefits can be achieved when it is integrated with existing systems to link all critical data in one data collection and management system.

More than Traceability

Technologies, such as SoftTrace, are transforming traceability from a burdensome expense to a mission critical solution capable of improving the bottom line.

Traceability software, built on a central database technology, provides food manufacturers with the opportunity to efficiently leverage internal logistical and quality related information and achieve tangible levels of performance improvement in areas such as production efficiency, labour costs, yield management and product value optimisation.

The report is based on eight case studies of previous outbreaks. Its findings based on analysis of current product tracing practices in the US indicated a widespread use of paper records and a lack of data definition, including inaccurate or incomplete information.

The IFT report recommends that the FDA advise the US Food Industry on best practices for record keeping and include:

• Identify the data necessary from the food industry in the event of an outbreak and subsequent investigation.
• Require each player in the food chain to develop and implement an product tracing plan.
• Adopt a technology platform to allow the FDA to quickly gather and interrogate data provided by the food chain in response to regulatory requests.
• Coordinate traceback investigations involving state and local health and regulatory agencies.
• Provide education to the Food Industry on future regulations and expectations.

The IFT also concluded that if a food company enhances its traceability capabilites it can expect to improve processes, increase supply chain efficiencies and confidence and increase market share.

By availing of regular upgrades to your SoftTrace system, you will ensure that you are using the best version of SoftTrace available and maximising the benefits of your software investment. Each upgrade contains new features, enhancements based on customer feedback and evolving industry requirements and fixes that improve SoftTrace’s performance and functionality.

Many of our customers already taken advantage of some of the great features in this release including:

• Windows 7: full compliance and certification for Windows 7.
• Event-driven, multi-tasking: this enables users to have multiple worksheets simultaneously open in a single session as well as open file maintenance options, enquiries and reports without having to exit from open worksheets.
• Improved user interface: a new look and improved navigation and communication components.
• User defined personal profiles: this enables users to configure SoftTrace screens to meet their individual requirements. Once configured, the user profile is saved automatically by the system and becomes the user’s default view on log-in.
• Enhanced parameter capture capabilities: automatically capture up to 20 results per sample from laboratory instruments for a more detailed testing profile.
• Integrated end-user report generator: providing users with the facility to easily design and generate customised reports using intuitive wizards and editors.
• Cloud RIA and Software as a Service (SaaS): the latest version of SoftTrace is based on a comprehensive development platform for developing rich internet, web and client/server cloud and mobile applications. Multi-tenancy support provides a platform for future Software as a Service development.

Contact us for more information on the benefits of SoftTrace Version 11.