"Food Traceability Webinar" Held on 28 January

Coming together for healthier, safer and better food for everyone.

In the webinar highlighting the importance of data and record-based continuous and detailed information throughout the supply chain before and after food production in food traceability, and transparent information sharing with consumers; Food Safety Association Chairman Samim Saner, Quality Systems Mérieux NutriSciences General Manager Sabahnur Demirci, Metro Quality Assurance Group Manager Tülay Özel, and Migros R&D Center Business Development Manager Ayşegül Özkavukçu participated. Topics addressed in the webinar included increased demand for safe food with the pandemic and consumers placing greater importance on traceable food during this period, and the importance of traceability in food safety.

Without traceability, we cannot talk about food safety!

Food Safety Association Chairman Samim Saner stated that the most important aspect of traceability is that it is the most essential tool for food quality, food safety and food authenticity. In his remarks, Saner noted that using traceability systems in production, processing and distribution stages during legal inspections has become mandatory, and emphasized that consumer awareness, particularly after Covid-19, has increased further, with consumers turning to controllable products rather than foods lacking food reliability. He also presented the "trust guide in the supply chain" project they have developed on this matter.

Traceability is a very powerful key!

Metro Quality Assurance Group Manager Tülay Özel emphasized that traceability consists of two components: tracking and monitoring; and provided very important information regarding the traceability system applied at Metro Turkey, particularly in meat and fish products which are valuable in terms of protein. She stated that from farm and aquaculture to shelf, they digitally track production stages using barcode systems and provide 100 percent traceability to their customers through invoices, and communicate to consumers the stories of the path traced for foods until they reach shelves.

The supply chain concept has now transformed into the concept of sustainable value chain

Migros R&D Center Business Development Manager Ayşegül Özkavukçu shared information about blockchain tracking systems in fruit and vegetable procurement at Migros. She stated that the journey of fresh fruits, vegetables and meat is presented to customers via blockchain in the Migros mobile application, and customers can view the fruit and vegetable journey through a QR code by using the application.

For traceability to function flawlessly, all links in the chain must be complete.

Quality Systems Mérieux NutriSciences General Manager Sabahnur Demirci began her remarks with the importance of recording and analyzing data. She mentioned that they have solutions built on blockchain technology as a digital solution. She explained that a program based on data entry from dispersed sources and transmission of this data to the end consumer is used, and when the QR code on the product is scanned, it is possible to access information about which stages the products have gone through until reaching the shelf. She noted that through this innovation, it is possible to communicate a message to the end consumer regarding the product's quality.   The Sustainable Food Platform will meet on 24 February for its third webinar on the Green Deal and Food Sector Impacts. For detailed information and registration; https://network.surdurulebilirlik.com.tr/