As global food trade continues to expand, the ability to trace food back to its origin and establish proof of provenance and authenticity takes an increasingly important role in the context of food safety, food quality and consumer protection. Currently, the industry relies on a “paper trail” but the use of isotopic applications adds a new level of science to the system.
Having a more scientific food tracing system in place means ensuring consumers that the package of “basmati rice” they purchase is the real aromatic and flavourful rice grown from cultivars that originated in India and Pakistan. It also means that if a market is hit by an outbreak of food poisoning, it is not necessary to make blanket recalls from supermarket shelves. The contamination can be traced directly back to the specific producer.
Traceability systems that enable provenance of food to be determined can provide an independent means of proving authenticity, combating fraudulent practices and controlling adulteration, which are important for economic, religious or cultural reasons. Even food that is safe for human consumption may have animal or botanical sources that render it unfit for consumers to eat. For example, consumers who follow Halal practices need assurance that any gelatin used in a processed food is not derived from pork sources or that ethanol is not derived from wines or spirits.
