Food Safety and Blockchain - A Perfect Match?

August 21, 2019

Society has grown over the generations from when we did our own hunting and gathering, nowadays we prefer to go down to the local grocer which provides all matter of food and spices. The food industry is one that we all rely on and trust immensely, we trust our grocery store with our lives every day, trusting the food we are purchasing has been handled responsibly and with the utmost care. But the reality is none of us has ever stopped to think whether the food safety standards have been upheld, we don’t have the power to see where our food has come from or even if that particular company has followed certified safety standards.

So why is food safety something that we need to worry about? Other than the usual germs and bacteria which is always a concern, food is a great place for the spread of disease outbreaks, a big part of how this is prevented is with food safety certification which is a third-party verification that products, processes or systems in the food supply chain meet accepted food safety standards.

In an article on food safety and hygiene states.

“Food borne disease remains a significant problem in the United States, annually affecting millions of people. For example, the latest data reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveal that in 2007 there were 1096 outbreaks and 21,201 cases throughout the United States.”

More to the story here

Without the safety standards and certification in place our lives could be at risk, simply having the certification means that certain standards have been passed on that must be upheld in order to keep consumers from falling ill or worse. The certification alone states that the corporation has undergone the necessary education and inspections for them to produce the products we need and love, there are a number of different types of certification that any company can acquire but as a consumer, I would have no way of knowing if the product I purchased received those safety and ethical standards or even where the product has come from. Knowing what would happen if those policies and procedures in place were neglected, i would want some way to see that they have been adhered to, Safe from bacteria and viruses but also malintent.

In Australia, 100 cases of needles found in fruit were reported, spreading nationwide panic.

“Large numbers of strawberries were recalled from Australian supermarkets, and many farmers were forced to bin their crops. Some local and overseas buyers suspended the sale of Australian strawberries.”

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The investigation eventually leading to the culprits arrest but had there been a better way to see if the protocol had been followed or even a way for suppliers to remain accountable to consumers maybe none of that would have been possible, maybe outbreaks of virus and bacteria could not only be tracked down and recalled easier but avoided altogether. 

With modern technology in tracking and traceability what it is today, suppliers remain accountable for the high standards our food requires, with third parties able to uphold standards easier with customer user accessibility granted to those wanting further assurances on the quality and care of our favorite products.

Download the free VeriDoc Global App from the Play or App store now. Scan the QR code in the image and try out the technology today using any smartphone.

With this technology already available from VeriDoc Global, all it would take would be a simple scan to view that food safety certification or even track where the product was grown to where to was shipped, Veridoc Globals patented QR code blockchain solution involves embedding a QR code on an item with a unique digital hash inside the QR code. The hash holds a string of information that is then placed on the blockchain network for security, verification, and validation. 

By using a QR code reading app on any smartphone, a customer can scan the QR code on a product, and receive the necessary information, in this case, Certification. Another customer may be looking for a more detailed account of where the product has come from, the customer can scan the products QR code and see. It can also add time and location stamps for production traceability if the customer wants further assurances of the standard with which the product was kept, along with any additional information such as batch numbers for product recalls, customer support information, and company contact information.

VeriDoc Globals finished patented blockchain-based technology won’t just hold suppliers accountable for products but also give the power back to the people illuminating corporations strengths by sharing the high level of safety and hygiene standards they adhere to. While also keeping the local grocers and consumers happy with tracking transparency, having the ability to access knowledge with the click of a camera, Veridoc Globals world-changing technology will not only change the lives of consumers but all those involved with tailored technology to any corporation. 

Seeing truly is believing.

This article was written by Reneé K and first posted on Medium. You can download the free VeriDoc Global App with QR Reader and Smart Login from the Play and App store now.