Recall Portal Will Include Enhancements for Fresh Foods

MICHAEL GARRY

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. — The Product Recall Collaboration Zone, an online industry portal that will allow communication of recall information between manufacturers and retailers, will include enhanced recall capabilities for fresh food products in its initial release, expected in early fall, according to Steve Arens, senior director, GS1 US here. “With the recent tomatoes situation, we decided to move up our planning rather than have enhancements down the road,” he told SN. The portal, which was designed by GS1 US and the Food Marketing Institute, Arlington, Va., will incorporate feedback from retailers, distributors, growers and packers on their “data needs” pertaining to recalls of produce, fresh meat and poultry, and deli products, Arens said. “We had not received much input from them in the initial version, which was focused on packaged goods.” The first release will also allow suppliers to individually target attachments or images to specific retailers or wholesalers in recall notices, he added.

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