We don’t usually begin with stories about trains. But bear with the example – it reveals something essential about the future of recalls.
As American railroad routes expanded in the 1800s, a simple problem created big issues: the clock. Every town set its own clock based on the sun, which meant no two places agreed on the hour. Schedules conflicted, trains were delayed, riders missed connections, and coordinating operations across regions was nearly impossible.
Rather than wait for government action, the railroads created their own solution. In 1883, they adopted standardized time zones to bring consistency to their growing network. There was no official regulation requiring it, only a recognition that without a shared system, progress was unsustainable.
It’s a useful comparison for the recall landscape we operate in today. Our supply chains are fast, far-reaching, and increasingly digital. Yet, when a product recall occurs, there is no consistent data standard for how the event is communicated, tracked, or executed. Most companies are doing their best with the tools they have, but they are forced to translate, reinterpret, and relay information manually, often under urgent circumstances.
Just like the railroad industry before time zones, we’re overdue for a foundational system that allows modern coordination.
Why Standardization Matters
Product recalls rely on data. When a recall is issued, businesses across the supply chain must know which product is affected, where it went, how much of it is still in circulation, and what to do next. Every hour that passes without clarity increases the likelihood of consumer exposure, public confusion, and operational disruption.
Yet today, recall data is rarely structured in a way that supports fast, reliable action. Critical details – such as product codes, lot numbers, and distribution patterns – are often delivered in formats like PDF attachments or freeform emails, which are cumbersome to access, messy to update, and often incomplete. Recipients must decipher the information, convert it into something usable, and then figure out how to apply it to their own systems. In many cases, trading partners receive different instructions at different times and must make educated guesses about what action is required.
This slows down the recall process. It also increases risk, both for consumers and for businesses.
The solution is a standardized recall data set. By defining what data is shared, in what format, and how it moves through the supply chain, companies can act faster and more confidently. Structured data means a distributor can immediately identify affected shipments before they reach retail shelves. It means retailers can pinpoint which products need to be removed without pulling unaffected inventory. It means consumers get clear communication that will keep them safe.
Why the Industry Must Lead
One of the clearest lessons from the railroad story is that change doesn’t have to come from regulators. It often comes from the people closest to the problem – those who understand what needs to be done and are ready to do it.
That’s the opportunity in front of us.
Recall InfoLink, along with many other contributors across food and consumer goods sectors, is part of the Alliance for Recall Ready Communities. This group is working with GS1 to develop a standardized recall data set that works for real-world operations. The goal is not to impose a new system from the top down, but to build a shared framework informed by those responsible for executing recalls.
This is not the first attempt at improving how recall information is shared. Programs like the Rapid Recall Exchange emerged years ago with the promise of helping companies organize and deliver recall notifications. But most of those efforts fell short of broad adoption. They were either too narrowly focused, too difficult to integrate, or too far removed from the day-to-day reality of running a recall.
The Alliance’s focus is to make sure the standard supports actual recall execution – how recalls are communicated, executed, and closed across a wide variety of supply chain models. The Alliance’s efforts are grounded in operational experience and built in partnership with stakeholders from every corner of the supply chain. That gives the current initiative both credibility and momentum, and increases the likelihood that what is built will actually be used.
What You Can Do Now
While the recall data standard is still being finalized, there are immediate steps companies can take to strengthen their own systems and prepare for alignment.
Start by reviewing your data – both product identifiers and customer contact information. Is it structured in a consistent format? Can your team access it quickly? Can your trading partners use it without translation or clarification? If the answer to any of those questions is no, it may be time to rethink your process.
Many companies are already doing this as part of their traceability initiatives. That work can easily be extended to include recall scenarios, ensuring the same data infrastructure supports both recall prevention and response. Traceability is important. But traceability without standardized recall data still leaves a gap between knowing where a product went and knowing how to get it back.
It’s also worth investing in a mock recall – not just as a compliance exercise, but as a test of how your systems perform when the pressure is on. Make sure your simulation includes identifying product and sharing that information with partners, tracking response, and documenting progress. That’s where the gaps appear, and where real improvements begin.
Moving Forward Together
Standards are not about creating rules for the sake of rules. They are about making it easier to coordinate, communicate, and succeed. Just like the railroads learned, when systems don’t align, risk increases. But when industries take the lead, alignment becomes possible.
If your company wants to improve recall performance and reduce risk, we’re here to help you implement data standards across your supply chain. And if you’re ready to shape a smarter future for recalls, we hope you’ll join the Alliance in building the standard our industry needs.
