The Consorzio del Parmigiano Reggiano introduces a new industry-standard, food identification method

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

Question for the readers this week; how concerned are you about the ingredients that you are putting in your body?

The food origins survey, an Angus Reid Study of 1,504 Canadians, put a lens on how much people value food traceability, natural ingredients and feeling safe with what they are putting in their bodies. Overall, nine-in-ten Canadians (91%) feel it is important to understand the ingredients they are putting in their body, and when asked about their food concerns, 84% of Canadians feel concerned with where their food comes from. The study also shows that Canadians value quality ingredients. Three quarters of Canadians (74%) are willing to pay more for quality foods.

“We conducted this survey to get a benchmark on Canadians’ food habits and concerns,” said Nicola Bertinelli, president of the Consorzio del Parmigiano Reggiano. “Not only can we see that Canadians understand the importance of quality ingredients, but the results highlight their concerns about food safety.”

Food traceability is increasing in concern for Canadians. 76% are yearning to know where their food comes from and agree that being able to trace their food to its source makes them feel safer.

There is now a new technology that has the ability to deliver previously unseen levels of traceability, inventory tracking and control, product authentication, quality-assurance testing, product sterilization, and consumer safety.

Traceability digital labels are electronic tags or codes that provide detailed information about the origin, production process, and supply chain of a product. These labels utilize digital technologies such as: barcodes, QR codes, or RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags to track and trace the movement of products throughout their lifecycle.

The purpose of traceability digital labels is to enhance transparency and accountability in supply chains. By scanning or reading the digital label, consumers, retailers, and other stakeholders can access real-time information about a product’s journey from its source to the point of sale. This information may include:

• Origin and authentication: The label can verify the product’s authenticity and provide details about its source, such as the farm, manufacturer, or producer
• Manufacturing and processing details: The label can provide insights into the production methods, quality control measures, and certifications involved in the manufacturing process
• Ingredients and components: Consumers can learn about the ingredients, or components used in the product, including their sources, potential allergens, or specific attributes (e.g., organic, fair trade, etc.)
• Environmental impact: Some traceability labels may include information about the product’s environmental impact, such as carbon footprint, emissions, or sustainability certifications
• Supply chain transparency: The label can reveal information about the various stages of the supply chain, including transportation, storage, and distribution. This helps in identifying potential bottlenecks, delays, or issues related to the product’s journey

To support Canadians’ desire for food safety and traceability, The Consortium of Parmigiano Reggiano has partnered with Kaasmerk Matec (Kaasmerk) and p-Chip Corporation (p-Chip) to launch a line of food-safe and secure traceability digital labels for its Parmigiano Reggiano cheese wheels.

Kaasmerk Matec and p-Chip Corporation partnered with The Consortium to complete this innovation program for a device integrated into a casein label on the rind of Parmigiano Reggiano. This creates a new industry-standard, food identification method. This scannable food tag is smaller than a grain of salt and highly durable, delivering next-generation visibility and allowing consumers to track their product from start to finish.

“Parmigiano Reggiano is one of the world’s oldest and most famous cheeses, and it is a product that symbolizes Italian produce,” said Nicola Bertinelli, president of the Consorzio del Parmigiano Reggiano. “By being the first to incorporate these secure digital labels onto our cheese wheels, we can continue to ensure consumer safety, bringing the traceability and the authentication of our products to meet industry 4.0 technological targets.”