traceability
Description:
The ability to track the journey of a foodstuff or ingredient through all stages of production, processing and distribution
Context:
Traceability in food safety means being able to track food, feed, ingredients, or animals through all stages of production, processing, and distribution, from where they come from to where they are sold. It allows authorities to identify both the immediate supplier and the immediate customer at each point in the food chain.
EFSA uses traceability information to support risk assessments, outbreak investigations, and exposure analyses by identifying the sources of hazards, understanding how they move through the food chain, and helping risk managers target controls, recalls, or monitoring measures to protect consumers.