Page 46 - FoodFocusThailand No.245 September 2026

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STRENGTHENING FOOD SAFETY WITH

“SMART TRACEABILITY SYSTEMS”

IN FOOD MANUFACTURING PLANTS

In an era where food safety constitutes the foundation of the food supply chain, modern consumers
increasingly demand transparency regarding food origins, production processes, and operational practices
at every stage. Consequently, traceability is no longer merely a legal requirement but has become a critical
strategy for building consumer trust, enhancing competitiveness, improving food safety standards, increasing
production efficiency, maintaining product consistency, and ensuring long-term consumer safety.

However, traditional paper-based traceability methods The evolution of traceability systems ranges from basic
are often slow and susceptible to human error. The identification and data storage technologies, such as QR codes,
integration of smart technologies has therefore become to IoT-based sensor monitoring systems and, ultimately, AI-
increasingly important. driven predictive analytics and risk assessment. Increasing data
granularity requires systematic management across three levels:
Global Applications of Smart Technologies in the micro level, which focuses on molecular and biochemical
Traceability attributes of raw materials; the meso level, which focuses on
The need for greater transparency across the food supply batch-level production control; and the macro level, which
chain is driven in part by increasingly stringent regulatory encompasses logistics and transportation management. This
requirements. For instance, the U.S. FDA’s FSMA 204 (Food progression relies on three core best practices: Unifying Data
Traceability Final Rule) requires detailed documentation of Acquisition, Ensuring Data Reliability and Database Security, and
Critical Tracking Events (CTEs) and Key Data Elements Enhancing End-to-End Supply Chain Visibility. These mechanisms
(KDEs) at relevant points throughout the supply chain for are essential for enabling systems to process, store, and deliver
foods included on the Food Traceability List (FTL). Similarly, complex datasets with greater speed and accuracy, thereby
the European Union’s General Food Law (EC No. 178/2002) improving readiness for international food safety regulations.
follows the “one step back, one step forward” principle,
requiring food businesses to maintain information on the From “Smart Factory” to “Smart Processing”
origins of raw materials and the destinations of their products. The transition from smart factory to smart processing utilizes IoT
The complexity of these regulatory requirements has and AI as essential tools for improving manufacturing efficiency
accelerated the transition toward technology-enabled and process control.
traceability systems supported by intelligent databases, the Large volumes of data collected from machinery and
Internet of Things (IoT), and Artificial Intelligence (AI). IoT production lines can be translated into actionable insights.
sensors enable real-time data collection and transmission, Applications include real-time equipment monitoring and
while AI facilitates the detection of anomalies across CTEs predictive maintenance, which can identify potential equipment
and KDEs. As a result, downstream verification allows failures before they occur, thereby reducing unplanned downtime.
commercial partners and regulatory authorities to access Furthermore, data visibility across the food supply chain serves
relevant data rapidly and accurately, supporting compliance as a foundation for traceability, helping manufacturers maintain
with food safety standards and regulations in international product quality and safety while building confidence among supply
markets. chain partners and consumers.

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