Yeah... months later, this still reeks of the RFID (livestock animal tagging) proposals in years past... what is *your* take on this? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From:International Food and Agribusiness Management Review
Volume 14, Issue 3, 2011
The U.S. Produce Traceability Initiative:
Analysis, Evaluation, and Recommendations
http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/114643/2/20110032_Formatted.pdf
Excerpt:
"...Different members of the supply chain suffer in more or less dramatic ways depending on two factors: the quantity and quality of traceability data maintained as well as level in the supply chain. In defining appropriate quantity and quality, it can be noted that an effective trace-back procedure relies on a quantity of data sufficient to follow individual product lots from entry (source) to exit (recipient) in a given location while the quality of data would allow specific identification for minimal impact in a recall situation. Additionally, the level in the supply chain can dictate the stakes involved in a trace-back. To illustrate, we describe two fictitious examples related to us by several of our industry experts. In both examples, members of the supply chain who dutifully record and maintain trace-back information are harmed by those who do not.
1. Many growers/shippers comply with recordkeeping and labeling by application and maintenance of relevant traceability data by lot/batch. In the event of a recall, product is received from grower/shippers who have provided sufficient information as well as those who have not. Because there is only a partial dataset available for trace-back, a widespread recall on a commodity is initiated, harming all grower/shippers equally.
2. Trace-back information is provided and accurate at a grower/shipper level but maintained only partially at a distribution or retail level. In the event of an outbreak, there is not sufficient data to implicate a single source due to lack of traceability records between distribution
centers and individual retail outlets such that all product must be recalled for a given commodity or commodities. While all members of the supply chain bear some cost in the recall, the ultimate burden is upon the grower/shipper who must refund the cost of the product through the supply chain in addition to performing a recall.
While these two examples are not intended to provide the full breadth of potential issues in which some players “follow the rules” while others do not, they are provided to support the idea that traceability, in order to be effective, must be implemented (without exception) chain-wide. ..."
NEW POST VIA:
READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT:http://www.thepacker.com/fruit-vegetable-enewsletter/packer-daily/Wal-Mart-prompts-traceability-compliance-213532561.html
Wal-Mart prompts traceability compliance
06/28/2013 11:29:00 AM
Melissa Shipman
The recent announcement by Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club Inc. that the stores will begin rejecting produce from suppliers that do not comply with Produce Traceability Initiative guidelines by Jan. 1 has breathed new life into the traceability movement.
PTI was launched in October 2007, with the milestone for supplier compliance to be completed by September 2010. Additional milestones were set for the end of 2012.
Nearly six years after its beginning, PTI is beginning to pick up speed.
In a letter sent May 29, the company described the process it will take to enforce the deadline schedule for PTI compliance at U.S. stores.
The schedule includes a grace period.
Suppliers must begin using PTI-compliant labels by Nov. 1 or their products will be marked as received but “out of spec.”
Effective Jan. 1, produce received at distribution centers without PTI-compliant case labels will be rejected, according to the letter.
No longer waiting
Todd Baggett, chief executive officer of RedLine Solutions Inc., Santa Clara, Calif., says his company’s phones have been ringing constantly by companies ready to implement PTI systems...READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT:http://www.thepacker.com/fruit-vegetable-enewsletter/packer-daily/Wal-Mart-prompts-traceability-compliance-213532561.html
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From:
http://perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=06/06/2013
We have written a great deal about Wal-Mart. Now, like a one-two punch, Wal-Mart has roiled the produce industry with two separate announcements. It declared that it would begin to enforce the requirements of the Produce Traceability Initiative (PTI) on vendors and that it would “recommit” to providing consumers with the freshest fruits and vegetables by rolling out a “100 percent money-back guarantee” for consumers. Significant organizational change would also be executed in order to accomplish this goal.
June 6, 2013 —
Perishable Pundit Overview:
Perishable Pundit Overview:
We have written a great deal about Wal-Mart. Now, like a one-two punch, Wal-Mart has roiled the produce industry with two separate announcements. It declared that it would begin to enforce the requirements of the Produce Traceability Initiative (PTI) on vendors and that it would “recommit” to providing consumers with the freshest fruits and vegetables by rolling out a “100 percent money-back guarantee” for consumers. Significant organizational change would also be executed in order to accomplish this goal.
******
Wal-Mart’s PTI announcement falls into the category of “interesting, if true.” The letter to suppliers is robust:
Date: May 29, 2013
To: Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club Produce Suppliers
Re: Case Labeling Standard
Greetings supplier partners.
As you know, both Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club are longtime supporters of the Produce Traceability Initiative, its milestones and standards. Along with that, we are corporately placing a heightened focus on freshness, quality and satisfaction of the produce we sell to our customers. In the past months, we’ve invested significant resources to improve our freshness, flow, and store-level execution. To ensure customer confidence in produce industry-wide, food safety and traceability continue to be one of the most important focus areas.
To that end, we’re ready to take the next big leap towards standardized case labeling and product track and trace. We recognize and commend those of you that are already there. We appreciate your trailblazing efforts. The fundamental pieces are in place, and are being demonstrated on a commercial level by many small, medium, and large suppliers. It is now the time for us to move it to the norm; ...
(THE TEXT OF WALMART'S LETTER IS INCLUDED IN THE PERISHABLE PUNDIT BLOG POST - http://perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=06/06/2013 -)
Perhaps just as important is what is not said in the letter. Wal-Mart has strong initiatives for produce, from “Heritage Agriculture” to buying “local,” and there is nothing in this announcement to indicate that Wal-Mart will insist that such vendors also conform to the standard. Since this is obviously an issue of great concern, both to the supplier community and those concerned with public policy, Wal-Mart’s silence on this matter is deafening...
READ THE FULL PERISHABLE PUNDIT BLOG POST - http://perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=06/06/2013 -)
READ THE FULL PERISHABLE PUNDIT BLOG POST - http://perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=06/06/2013 -)
Internal Monsanto memos show that Monsanto knew of the problems of dioxin contamination of Agent Orange when it sold it to the U.S. government for use in Vietnam. Despite the widespread health impact, Monsanto and Dow were allowed to appeal for and receive financial protection from the U.S. government against veterans seeking compensation for their exposure to Agent Orange.
