Most everyday consumers probably don’t think much about food safety unless things go wrong. They assume food producers take all the necessary precautions, often consuming a massive assortment of foods for years without ever becoming sick.
However, for the people who work around food daily ” whether to obtain the raw materials or cook the finished consumables ” safety is crucial to their work. They learn to avoid cross-contamination and understand the importance of keeping perishable goods in the correct temperature range. Some of today’s technologies ” namely the Internet of Things (IoT) and big data ” could help in that all-important aim. Here are some of the possibilities.
Getting More Visibility With the IoT and Big Data
You’ve probably been in the situation of hearing a news report about recalled food, then scrambling to check identifiers on the packaging that should reveal if you have one of the problematic items. While it’s a good thing manufacturers have enough data to know which batches have the issues, some people understandably wonder if there is a better way. Fortunately, the IoT and big data can aid in traceability to take some of the burdens off of consumers.
For example, a big data platform might tell a manufacturer which retailers in various states got the recalled goods. Then, shoppers who recently bought them and have a grocery store’s app on their phones or participate in loyalty programs from those retailers could get push notifications on their phones, helping them stay informed even without hearing the news reports of a recall.
IoT sensors play a vital role by showing what happens at each point in a product’s journey. Did it get too warm during shipping? Some connected devices can even detect foreign particles, such as dust or dirt, in foods. Agricultural professionals use IoT sensors, as well. Those gadgets help reveal whether growing conditions or unforeseen challenges may have led to the eventual contamination.
Creating More Confidence via Big Data and the IoT
A recent worldwide survey showed that many consumers doubt the safety of the food they buy and consume. Only 18% of North American respondents and 15% of those in Europe trust that representatives from food manufacturing and brands do enough to make food and beverages safe for public consumption. However, numerous advances in big data and the IoT help food brands maintain excellent quality and applicable safety standards.
In China, some food and beverage providers have invested heavily in big data to prioritize food safety. It became apparent that manual inspections alone fell short in that aim. Big data tools give insights about everything from a farm’s soil quality to a restaurant’s cooking methods. Customers notably have access to the latter, letting them make safer choices about where to eat while dining out.
Helping people feel more at ease about the food they buy is also possible through high-tech labels that both consumers and retailers can see. The traditional method of stamping use-by or sell-by dates on a package often leads to unnecessary waste. A new approach uses smart sensors and radio waves to inform people. A product tag shows the time and temperature-related history of a product, plus collects data in real-time.
Ensuring Better Compliance in a Globalized World
Perhaps you’ve looked at a container of fruit and marveled at its point of origin. The ability to source foods from all over the world undoubtedly gives consumers more choices. It also introduces new food safety challenges. As packages of food pass through a more extensive network of handlers, the likelihood goes up that at least one supplier could make a mistake that causes contamination later down the line.
Members of the United States Congress passed the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which President Barack Obama signed in 2011. It signaled a crucial shift whereby the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could focus on responding proactively to food safety issues rather than reacting after the fact, as the organization had done before. Every year, 48 million Americans ” roughly 1 in 6 people ” get sick from foodborne bacteria.
Besides impacting food production facilities, the FSMA also applies to road and rail transport professionals who handle food. For example, vehicles must stay well-maintained, and people handling the food must safeguard against cross-contamination. Big data and the IoT help entities prove they are following all applicable regulations. These technologies also help food manufacturers identify possible weak links in their supply chains and take corrective action.
Helping Companies Learn About Problems Sooner
Since so many food and beverage brands have a global reach, it doesn’t take long for a food safety problem to start small and spiral out of control. Then, once news breaks of illnesses and fatalities, the affected companies race to get to the root cause and assure the public that they have tackled the problem, and it won’t happen again. What if enterprises could get word of such issues before catastrophes happen?
Several research teams are working on sensors that could accomplish that goal. A group at MIT made a sensor from silk microneedles. They attach directly to a package and draw liquid from it. Two special inks on the sensor change color to detect spoilage or bacteria. Another sensor made from graphene detects histamine down to 3.41 parts per million. Histamine is an allergen and an indicator of spoilage in fish and meat.
It may soon be common for companies to use these advanced sensors along with complementing products based on IoT and big data innovations. For example, might a smart thermometer show that a room’s temperature contributed to rapid spoilage? A big data tool could reveal that the room progressively got warmer over the past two weeks, suggesting a faulty climate control system. Companies could then address concerns before contaminated food reaches consumers.
Promoting Crucial Progress
Anyone who has ever experienced food poisoning almost universally answers that they never want to go through it again. Big data and the IoT won’t eliminate foodborne illness problems caused by improper preparation or issues within the supply chain. However, these technologies do provide vital additional insights that were not so readily available before.
Suppose a food company’s big data platform shows a higher-than-average number of safety issues in a given department. In that case, managers could intervene by providing additional training or evaluating where the shortcomings exist. Moreover, IoT products help verify that staff members follow the right procedures, such as washing their hands for the appropriate amount of time.
These technologies help households feel more empowered, too. The ChopBox is a smart cutting board equipped with a disinfecting light, a kitchen timer, a scale and more ” all powered with a long-lasting rechargeable battery. People also have access to apps that instantly show them food safety data about the brands and restaurants that get their business. Thanks to the IoT and big data, everyone can get more involved in essential food safety efforts.
