@Risk

Supply chain traceability is becoming increasingly important –particularly for companies in the food and beverage sector and their customers.

In fact, more than three quarters (76 percent) of food service professionals recently polled by Voxware said that traceability is a priority for their companies.

The voice of the consumer appears to be getting louder. Nearly a third (31 percent) said their customers ask either frequently or urgently about plans on compliance, and more than half (52 percent) said their customers are asking about traceability occasionally. In addition, nearly three-fourths of respondents (72 percent) said they are either somewhat likely or very likely to adopt some traceability standards in the near future.

But for businesses, the expense of implementing traceability processes remains a significant challenge. (more…)

A new three-way partnership between DHL Global Forwarding, Interstate Transport, Inc., and Trans World Forwarding Inc. (TWF) will reportedly guarantee a complete perishable supply chain solution starting from point of origin in Central and South America to the final delivery locations across North America.

This unique collaboration will provide controlled temperature trucking for perishables coming in by air or ocean for all kinds of commodities such as cut flowers, produce and fresh seafood – all on one bill – from one freight provider.

TWF will act as DHL Global Forwarding’s preferred provider in charge of receiving cargo from the airport and seaport and then handling and processing the shipment until it is ready to be transported as per the customer’s need. Some of the services that TWF will provide include: customs clearance, inspections, storage, consolidations, pallet breakdown, cross-docking and direct delivery to importers in the Miami area.
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The China supply chain is full of challenges, and a recent article in The New York Times takes a close look at one of the most significant of all: a lack of integrity that now saturates both academic and business environments there.

In “Rampant Fraud Threat to China’s Brisk Ascent,” reporter Andrew Jacobs outlines a string of recent revelations that expose “the dishonest practices that permeate (Chinese) society, including students who cheat on college entrance exams, scholars who promote fake or unoriginal research, and dairy companies that sell poisoned milk to infants.”

In fact, according to Jacobs, in China, “fakery in one area in particular — education and scientific research — is pervasive enough that many here worry it could make it harder for the country to climb the next rung on the economic ladder.”

These are serious concerns. And, they add to an already long list of China supply chain headaches, including capricious trade rulings, rampant IP piracy and product health and safety concerns.

Jacobs details several recent high-profile cases of false credentials, embellished resumes, plagiarism and even high-tech subterfuge. For example, a recent study found that nearly one-third of the research articles submitted to scientific journals published by Zhejiang University were pirated from previously published research. Other investigations have exposed vaunted “doctors” and researchers as fakes.

The message is clear: When it’s time for your company to do business in China, tread carefully. Dig deep for information about your suppliers, and establish a collaborative relationship from the start. After all, your company’s business success depends on the integrity of your suppliers.

Do business interests interfere with the work of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Department of Agriculture (USDA) employees who are involved with food safety?

Unfortunately, the answer to that question is too often “yes,” according to new research by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).

In survey results released earlier this month, the UCS revealed that hundreds of FDA and USDA employees feel undue corporate influence is a major problem affecting the nation’s food safety. Among more than 1,700 respondents who took part in the survey, (more…)

Federal officials now estimate that as many as half a billion salmonella-tainted eggs have been circulating in the US food supply over the past few months. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people have been sickened with salmonella linked to the contaminated eggs, prompting three recalls over the past two weeks –the third was issued last Friday.

A small handful of egg farms in Iowa appear to be at the center of the outbreak. Two of these farms are operated by Hillandale Farms of Iowa, one of the largest egg companies in the US; Wright County Egg Farm operates the other five. These farms share several common suppliers, including those for chicks and feed. According to the AP, this supplier has a history of violations and controversy. (more…)