CIOReview | | 9 NOVEMBER 2022outbreak may be identified, actions taken to address it, and thereby limiting the scope of the outbreak and protecting public health.Food traceability for us is the ability to follow the movement of a food product and its ingredients through all steps in the supply chain, both backward and forward. It involves documenting and linking the growing, harvesting, processing and distribution chain of all our leafy greens, vegetables, fruits, condiments and other ingredients. And it's imperative to get this detailed information with virtually real-time turnaround.During the past year, an interdisciplinary Fresh Express team led by Information Technology has reimagined and deployed an enterprise wide digital platform combined with RFID(radio frequency identification) technologies to create a new and innovative solution to a highly complex need. In short, we designed and implemented a next-generation tracking system combining traditional barcode scanning and radio frequency technology for asset tracking with a robust database and mobile applications. We are well along our way to implementing this across all of our plants. From design to execution, every department within Fresh Express was involved. Engineering created custom designs for equipment installation. Information Technology developed software to run on data capture devices. Research and Development validated customer requirements. Food Safety and Quality checked compliance for equipment installation, data results and regulatory necessities.The project also served to transform or fine tune many of the company's procedures, resulting in higher quality products, safer processes and more consistent materials sourcing, all contributing to a more trustworthy and reliable Fresh Express brand. Master Pack Vision System for Salad KitsEach year, consumers with severe allergen sensitivities face life threatening situations, and companies lose millions of dollars due to recalls for allergen mislabeling. The Fresh Express product line includes numerous fresh salad kits that contain master condiment packs made up of various salad dressings and toppings, some of which contain food allergens. A risk exists that due to equipment malfunction or human error, an incorrect master pack could be inadvertently dropped into the wrong salad bag, resulting in the mislabeling of allergens on the package and potential risk to consumers. A Master Pack Vision System (MPV) has been implemented in all five regional Fresh Express manufacturing facilities. The systems cans and reads a two-dimensional code from the master pack, which identifies allergens that are present, including wheat, soy, egg, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish. At the same time, the system reads product information from the bar code. If information from both codes match correctly, the master pack is released into the bagger, which is an assurance that salad kits contain the correct master packs and are accurately labeled for known allergens. If information does not match, the system screen will display the word "mismatch" and no condiment pack will be dispensed and the line will be stopped. At that point, a QA supervisor is alerted to the error, who immediately troubleshoots and resets the system after corrections are made. Similarly, if for some reason the codes cannot be properly scanned, the system declares a "misread" and a QA supervisor is alerted to pull the pack, correct any issues and reset the system. The fully automated and digitized system mitigates against allergen mislabeling, protecting consumers, employees operating the system and the company from error. In ClosingTechnological innovation has facilitated significant high-value benefits to the safety of Fresh Express products,to employees in the execution of their responsibilities, to the ways in which we do business, and most importantly, to consumers for their continuing enjoyment of safe and nutritious fresh salad and leafy greens products. About Fresh Express®Fresh Express®is the brand leader in Value Added Salads and is dedicated to providing consumers with healthy, convenient ready-to-eat salads, leafy greens, vegetables and fruits. With the invention of its special Keep Crisp® bag in the 1980s, Fresh Express pioneered the retail packaged salad category and was the first to make them available to grocery stores nationwide. Today, Fresh Express fresh salads come in more than 100 different varieties offering exciting new flavors and convenient new ways to meet the daily dietary requirements for both conventional and organic fresh produce. More than 14 million consumers each week enjoy healthy, convenient ready-to-eat Fresh Express salads, spinach and vegetables. For more information, visit www.FreshExpress.com. Rapid and accurate trace back and trace forward capabilities are a cornerstone of any credible food safety program
< Page 8 | Page 10 >