Are you 100 per cent sure the food in your kitchen is not counterfeit? Overseas counterfeiters have diversified from fake designer handbags to food, trying to pass off poorer quality grown produce as genuine brands.
Consumer packaged goods companies are spending millions to promote, develop and protect brands. With supply chains becoming more diverse, the years ahead may become even more challenging when it comes to protecting the equity companies have established in many high-profile brands.
A more robust supply chain, with the ability to track products from the beginning to the end, is a key component of any effort. The Brand Protection report said the use of smart labels/tags will continue to grow on products and that radio frequency identification will continue to grow throughout operations and the supply chain.
‘It makes it easier for different types of automated processes to recognise what’s on the pallet and follow it through the operation, mainly on the distribution side,’ saidJorge Izquierdo, vice-president of market development for the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers, Reston, Va.
He said use will increase in the future.
‘Today we are talking about pallets. In the future, it may move to boxes and even secondary packaging.’
Izquierdo added that areas of vulnerability within the food and beverage supply chain remain at the very beginning, with the sourcing of ingredients, and at distribution, just before products reach the consumer.
Fruit growers and packers, wholesalers and retailers are able to check the origin and shelf date of most fruits covertly or visibly, with the imminent release of Tracepack’s HACCP POLYtrust edible UV invisible and visible inks which comply with all FDA regulations for printing directly onto fruit and vegetables.
Complete solution
Tracepack offers a complete traceability and anti-counterfeit solution. This can be done using poly thermal inkjet printers and inks focused purely on providing exporters globally unique solutions that protect the company brand from counterfeit, substitution and other fraudulent actions.
The company utilises innovative thermal POLYtij UV invisible non-porous and HACCP food grade inks combined with encrypted barcode technology, real-time smartphone and an Android app with website authentication.
