Food factories nowadays produce literally thousands or millions of individual food products. The products are manufactured in batches or consignments and it is humanly impossible for the manufacturer to check or handle each item. Yet mistakes and low quality items sometimes enter the production line. These products are either not saleable or they pose a health risk to the public. The manufacturer therefore needs some form of system to track and record their products, and food traceability software systems are one option.
The two primary reasons for problems with food products are that they are either too old to be sold or they are a health hazard to the public. When a product is legally too old to be on the market, this does not automatically mean that it is unhealthy. It simply means that the legal expiry date has passed. The product is then not permitted to be on the shelf. The retailer is not allowed to sell it, even though it is still fit for consumption.
The other cause is authentic decomposition, or loss of quality to the extent that the food product cannot be consumed any more. This is usually encountered in the case of perishables like vegetables, fruit and dairy, but it is also possible with canned goods or items which can be stored for a very long time, such as grains.
Software systems are used to mark, monitor and track food products. The manufacturer can locate a batch and then ask for it to be withdrawn from the market using these systems. This is important if the need arises to withdraw or recall a batch of products.
Yet the consumer can also empower themselves in order to avoid purchasing undesirable expired goods. This is important because the system of tracking and monitoring is not foolproof. Retailers can manipulate the system to avoid the elimination of expired goods. For example, where an expiry date is published on the packaging, this date may not be accurate or may be edited as it approaches.
An example of a product that the consumer can inspect themselves is tinned food. Tins that have been penetrated, dented or that are rusting should be avoided. If the contents of a tin are decomposing, the tin will inflate. This may also indicate that air has entered the tin.
There are also products on the market these days that are designed to be marketed as having a long shelf life. However, they are not exempt from expiry, either. Retailers or wholesalers might sometimes try to put these items on the shelves for a very long time, even a couple of years. Yet consumers should always check the expiry date. Where a retailer refuses to adhere to the expiry date, the manufacturer or even the authorities can be contacted with the complaint.
The flavor or quality of the product is not the only consideration when it comes to expired food products. Public health is important and expired foodstuffs can cause disease and death. These products should be detected and removed from the market as a matter of course.
The two primary reasons for problems with food products are that they are either too old to be sold or they are a health hazard to the public. When a product is legally too old to be on the market, this does not automatically mean that it is unhealthy. It simply means that the legal expiry date has passed. The product is then not permitted to be on the shelf. The retailer is not allowed to sell it, even though it is still fit for consumption.
The other cause is authentic decomposition, or loss of quality to the extent that the food product cannot be consumed any more. This is usually encountered in the case of perishables like vegetables, fruit and dairy, but it is also possible with canned goods or items which can be stored for a very long time, such as grains.
Software systems are used to mark, monitor and track food products. The manufacturer can locate a batch and then ask for it to be withdrawn from the market using these systems. This is important if the need arises to withdraw or recall a batch of products.
Yet the consumer can also empower themselves in order to avoid purchasing undesirable expired goods. This is important because the system of tracking and monitoring is not foolproof. Retailers can manipulate the system to avoid the elimination of expired goods. For example, where an expiry date is published on the packaging, this date may not be accurate or may be edited as it approaches.
An example of a product that the consumer can inspect themselves is tinned food. Tins that have been penetrated, dented or that are rusting should be avoided. If the contents of a tin are decomposing, the tin will inflate. This may also indicate that air has entered the tin.
There are also products on the market these days that are designed to be marketed as having a long shelf life. However, they are not exempt from expiry, either. Retailers or wholesalers might sometimes try to put these items on the shelves for a very long time, even a couple of years. Yet consumers should always check the expiry date. Where a retailer refuses to adhere to the expiry date, the manufacturer or even the authorities can be contacted with the complaint.
The flavor or quality of the product is not the only consideration when it comes to expired food products. Public health is important and expired foodstuffs can cause disease and death. These products should be detected and removed from the market as a matter of course.
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