Definition
Traceability consists of tracking raw materials through to finished products, by tracing the path of a foodstuff through all stages from production to processing and then distribution.
Keeping track of a product’s information from fork to fork allows rapid identification of the items requested during a product check or withdrawal / recall.
Why do traceability?
- Ensure the health and protection of consumers
- Respect the regulations
- Ensure an optimal quality approach
- Increase efficiency during a product withdrawal / recall
There are 3 levels of traceability
- Upstream traceability: Know the origin of all foodstuffs and raw materials entering the establishment.
- Internal traceability: Knowing how to make the link between the materials received and the finished products
- Downstream traceability: Identify which product has been sold / supplied to which professional customer (B2B sales only)
Information to keep
A minimum
- Name of supplier
- Product Name
- Delivery date
Plus the key elements for perfect traceability
- Quantities received
- DLC / Lot number
Retention period of traceability information
- Products without DDM *: Archiving period 5 years
- Products including DDM * & gt; 5 years: Archiving duration DDM * + 6 months (some cans)
- Perishable products including the DLC & lt; 3 months or without DLC: Archiving period 6 months from the date of delivery or manufacture
The company can choose the support of its traceability system which can be based on a simple handwritten document or more or less sophisticated IT support **
*DDM : Date de Durabilité Minimale
**Extrait du Guide des Bonnes Pratiques d’Hygiène du Restaurateur validé par les Ministères (page 147)