It’s pretty well known by now that manually managed, siloed systems have been a primary culprit in limiting the effectiveness and efficiency of food safety efforts. Even though everyone agrees on that part, it’s taken a long time for digital solutions to gain traction on an individual basis, much less in a way that connects data in real-time across the supply chain. But finally, I’ve noticed a shift in momentum this year – and would maybe even be so bold to say that this was the year the digital transformation finally reached the food safety supply chain. 

For the first time, the conversation has changed from whether digital tools can help to how to make them work together. The individual parts we’ve all been building, refining, and testing for years are beginning to connect into something that feels whole. 

You can see it in the way companies are working together to bridge systems that used to operate independently. Technology providers are prioritizing compatibility. Data platforms are standardizing formats so information can flow more easily across organizations. Regulatory expectations are encouraging more transparency and traceability, which in turn are driving better data management. The mindset has shifted from “owning the process” to “sharing the process,” and that’s what’s making this work.

This progress extends well beyond the traditional pillars of food safety. The same digital connections that allow companies to respond quickly in a recall are also powering innovation in prevention, sustainability, and accountability. Predictive analytics are giving organizations early warning of potential risks. Sustainable recovery systems are reducing waste by redirecting safe product instead of destroying it. Even recycling and resource optimization are being informed by the same connected data streams that once focused solely on risk.

It’s what we’ve started to call “end-to-end protection” – when every part of the system is connected, protection becomes continuous. It starts long before a problem is discovered and continues long after it’s resolved.

At Recall InfoLink, we’ve spent years preparing for this shift. Our focus has always been on connection: connecting people, data, and systems so that recalls become part of a broader, smarter process. What’s exciting now is seeing the rest of the industry catching up to that same mindset. Partnerships that used to be difficult to form are now happening naturally because the value of shared data is clear to everyone involved. Starfish is an example – their business model brings together partners across different parts of the food ecosystem so that information can flow to where it’s needed, the moment it’s needed, via existing systems.

I’ve been in food safety long enough to know how hard-won this progress is. It’s taken trust between competitors, open conversations between regulators and industry, and a shared commitment to improving how we protect consumers. It’s been slow, deliberate, necessary work From my vantage point, you can feel the energy building. There’s a sense of optimism that this time, the ecosystem is coming together. 

For those of us who’ve been pushing for this kind of connection, it feels like the industry we’ve been imagining is arriving.

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