Nobody likes dealing with recalls. When a recall happens, the companies that have implemented both traceability and recall management systems will have a much easier time. Building your traceability system with recall execution in mind means integrating the two, ensuring that when a recall happens, your company can act immediately with minimal disruption. If you’re already investing in traceability, updating your recall management system at the same time will save you time, money, and frustration during your next recall.
Traceability matters most during a recall. This is when companies need to locate affected products, notify the right stakeholders, and act fast to prevent harm. If your traceability data isn’t structured to support recall execution, identifying what needs to be removed from the market could take longer than necessary, increasing costs and exposing your company to unnecessary risk.
As Andy Kennedy, Co-Founder of New Era Partners, explains:
“The FDA Food Traceability Rule, FSMA 204, defines critical tracking events that may be used for source and lot-level tracing for foodborne illness investigations and recalls. According to FDA’s economic analysis, the traceability rule could shorten FDA’s investigation time by over 80%. I expect that recalls will be reduced by a similar amount if food traceability, as defined by the rule, is broadly adopted by the food industry.”
By implementing traceability and recall management systems together, companies ensure that they are fully prepared when an issue arises. Here's why you should 'think recalls' when doing traceability work:
1. Streamline Data
Traceability and recall execution rely on the same core information. The attributes you track for traceability—product details, lot codes, and expiration dates—define what needs to be recalled. Your customer lists tell you who needs to be notified. If your traceability system captures this data correctly, and is connected to your recall management system, your recall process is already halfway done before the event even happens.
Whether it’s a centralized database, ERP system, or blockchain ledger, traceability technology makes it easier to extract and share critical information quickly. Companies that integrate their recall management system with their traceability system avoid the scramble to gather and verify data when time is of the essence.
2. Reduce Costs
Recalls are expensive, but integrating traceability and recall management helps reduce the financial burden. Targeted recalls reduce waste, prevent revenue loss, and minimize business disruption. Companies that can quickly identify which products are affected and where they are, can avoid unnecessary, broad-scale recalls that pull unaffected products from shelves. The economic impact of a recall hinges on removing product efficiently, accurately, and with as little collateral damage as possible.
3. Prevent Chaos
No company wants to be stuck piecing together data connections in the middle of a recall. If your traceability and recall management systems are separate, you’ll be forced to manually link information under pressure. Companies that integrate traceability and recall management from the start will already have their data connected and ready to go when every minute counts. A seamless system means faster response times, clearer communication, and fewer mistakes during recall execution.
Thinking about recalls while setting up your traceability system is smart preparation. Traceability is something you already need, so structuring it in a way that makes recalls seamless is the easiest way to reduce risk and streamline operations. The companies that update both their traceability and recall management systems together will be the ones that execute recalls smoothly, protect their brand reputation, and minimize disruptions when the time comes.
