DNA-based traceability approach used in new food safety alliance

JBT Corporation, a technology solutions provider to the food and beverage industry, and SafeTraces, a food safety and traceability solutions provider, have announced an alliance to integrate SafeTraces’ patented DNA-based technologies into JBT’s solutions portfolio for worldwide distribution.

The strategic alliance will focus on incorporating SafeTraces‘ food safety and traceability technology into JBT FoodTech businesses, including fresh produce technologies, fresh-cut technologies and coating equipment solutions, enabling rapid verification of sanitation processes and item-level tracking and tracing of food materials. Instead of waiting for days or weeks to verify food safety, sustainability or purity, the integrated solutions will provide actionable results in minutes.

According to the United States Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG), food-related recalls have risen at 10% in the U.S. from since 2013. The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) also estimates that each recall results in over $10 billion in direct costs not including indirect costs related to long-term damage to the brand reputations of food industry actors. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has repeatedly called on the food industry to embrace new technologies and innovations focused on improving its ability to secure the food supply chain and engage in more effective tracking and tracing of food.

“Food safety and traceability is a mega-trend that will transform the marketplace over the next generation,” said Carlos Fernandez, JBT’s executive vice president and president, liquid foods. “Consumers are increasingly rewarding food companies that provide greater transparency on how their food was produced and leaving behind those that don’t. SafeTraces has developed a game-changing technology that has wide-ranging applications across our business.”