Consumers Expect Food To Be Safe
When you buy groceries, you expect the food to be safe. If there is a problem and food is found to not be safe, you expect that food to be removed from store shelves immediately. For the most part, that is what happens. Food manufacturers and suppliers will do a voluntary recall of a product when it is discovered that the food is defective, not labeled properly, or unsafe in any way. The FDA also issues food recalls.
The Food Industry has had it’s own recall system in place for years which complies with the requirements of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Reportable Food Registry. That system has just been replaced with a new standardized food recall system. Named “Rapid Recall Exchange”, the new system was launched Sept. 21st by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and GS1 US™.
Will Benefit The Public
Rapid Recall Exchange is an on-line service to enable prompt and accurate information exchange between food industry retailers, wholesalers, and suppliers about food recalls and products withdrawn from the market.
” Rapid Recall Exchange represents industry consensus that a standardized product recall system is critical to enhancing effective communication. It is a system designed by the industry and for the industry, which applies best practices and critical insight and expertise from industry partners and associations,” said Leslie G. Sarasin, FMI President and CEO.
Bob Carpenter, CEO of GS1 US stated, “This will benefit the public as well as the companies that use it. It employes the same GS1 global standards that these companies already use to identify their products, stock their shelves, and accelerate check-outs. Its ease of use and extensive functionality can improve the speed and accuracy of recalls, which we all want.”
Supported by GMA and N.G.A.
Rapid Recall Exchange is supported by the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) and National Grocers Association (N.G.A.).
The president and CEO of GMA, Pamela G. Bailey stated, “Manufacturers are eager to work closely with retailers and wholesalers to facilitate information exchange, especially during the urgent time of a product recall. We are pleased to support this unique tool that will help protect consumers by providing critical product information directly to those who can act on it quickly.”
Tom Zaucha, president and CEO of the National Grocers Association, had this to say, “N.G.A. is encouraged with the progress and direction of the Rapid Recall Exchange. This is a critical initiative for our industry that requires leadership and proven solutions on such an important consumer issue. Additionally, we are pleased to be working with FMI, GMA, and GS1 US and soon other associations to strengthen our product recall process.
More information is available at http://www.rapidrecallexchange.org.
