blog-post

Cornell University researchers created a new predictive model that examines spore-forming bacteria and their impact on pasteurized milk shelf life, published in the August issue of the Journal of Dairy Science entitled “Psychrotolerant spore-former growth characterization for the development of a dairy spoilage predictive model”. The goal of the research was to create a mathematical model to increase the product shelf life and have a more meaningful and accurate way to estimate the shelf life. This can reduce food waste and reduce food spoilage, by a better understanding of the parameters driving spoilage. The researchers characterized the ability to germinate and grow...

Part 2- Blockchain as a solution to traceability Why Blockchain? In our previous blog we defined blockchain as a decentralized, distributed ledger technology, among many thousands of computers that can record transactions between parties in a secure and permanent way. It is often associated with cryptocurrency. The blockchain is an emerging technology that offers a way for companies to perform transactions with each other securely as they move products around the world. What makes blockchain unique is that it is a shared, permanent ledger that records all the transactions in a chronological order that cannot be altered or deleted. The food supply...

The Ripple Effect The ripple effect is a chain reaction of recalls. Typically an ingredient manufacturer produces a product that may contain a pathogen. The contaminated product is distributed to many other manufacturers that incorporate the ingredient into their products. As a result of the initial recall, all the users of the ingredient are required to recall their products.  In some cases a tertiary recall happens, when secondary recalled products are manufactured in line adjoined to the lines where the secondary products are produced. We are currently starting to see the chain reaction as a result of a whey powder...

Part 1- Tracking and Tracing This is a two-part series of blogs. The first blog will deal with tracking and tracing products through the supply chain, since tracking of products is a prerequisite to blockchain implementation. The second blog will deal with the current status of blockchain, its advantages and the hurdles that need to be overcome. Drivers of food traceability As food is transferred from farm to fork, it involves a complex network of participants. The product from an ingredient producer could end up in hundreds or even thousands of different products on the supermarket shelf. A single ingredient...