
More than 500 million eggs have been recalled in recent weeks. Nearly 2000 people report being sick from eggs thought to be carrying salmonella. The eggs are traced back to a pair of Iowa farms with common ownership. Like many food products the eggs were then marketed under multiple brand names and through various distribution networks.
Some troubling information about this event is that despite the first signs of contaminated eggs occurring in May, the recall was not conducted until August. The finger pointing between producers, government agencies, and consumers continues today. Based on this recall, recent peanut recalls and growing concern by Americans over food safety, I would guess we will see more strict federal legislation governing food safety soon. In fact, the timing would be perfect for the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act to pass the senate in September.
While many industries fight additional regulation, many major food brand owners have advocated for this type of legislation. A CNN Money article highlights some of the financial impact on brand owners when a recall occurs.
• Kellogg’s took a $34 million hit in their 2008 earnings as a result of the peanut recall.
• Overall peanut butter sales volume declined by 22% at the beginning of 2009
As with most legislation, the Food Safety Modernization Act is descriptive in terms of authority, but vague in terms of how companies would implement practices to support improved safety in the food supply chain. Here are a few pieces from the current legislation and my thoughts on how technology can be used to help enforce the process.
“require that each person (excluding farms and restaurants) who manufactures, processes, packs, distributes, receives, holds, or imports an article of food permit inspection of his or her records if the Secretary believes that there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to such food will cause serious adverse health consequences or death”
This bill pertains to the majority of the food value chain. Food chain participants must be able to create and store records related to the products they handle. Clearly, technology can assist with the capture and storage of this information.
“Requires each owner, operator, or agent in charge of a food facility to: (1) evaluate the hazards that could affect food; (2) identify and implement preventive controls; (3) monitor the performance of those controls; and (4) maintain records of such monitoring.”
Again, technology will play a critical role implementing preventative controls and monitoring the performance of the controls. Supply chain technology can help support best practices such as stock rotation (first-in-first-out, first-expired-first-out), lot/batch tracking, product labeling, and quality inspections.
Additional Resources:
Fisher Nuts improves traceability in manufacturing and warehousing operations with HighJump warehouse management (WMS)
Three Components of Product Traceability in the Food and Beverage Supply Chain
Mom’s Foods Case Study

What sales model works for you, and why?
I have to admit I am not an avid World Cup soccer fan...but I have enjoyed the coverage and subsequent drama unfold with a few of the higher profile upsets and controversial rulings on the field. The ironic story regarding the English team's history with the "Ghost Goal" certainly caught my attention (England clinched its only World Cup victory in 1966 with a similar dispute goal line marker) as the one disallowed versus Germany, en route to a 4 - 1 German victory.
HighJump Software announced 

Now onto the topic of inventory. If you ask most CFOs, they would point to the balance sheet and tell you the dollar amount of inventory on the books. It seems like it should be an asset; it is something your company spent time and money to create. Heck, we make a living selling millions of dollars of software and services so companies can better manage and track their inventory with warehouse inventory management systems. 
HighJump Software was recently named to the annual Food Logistics 100. The FL100 is a listing of technology solution and service providers selected by the editorial staff of Food Logistics magazine that are helping food, beverage and CPG companies gain a competitive logistical advantage.
Congratulations to Overstock.com, a HighJump WMS warehouse management system customer, for once again placing second in the
Just when we thought we could call the Green Bay Packers playoff chances dead and anoint the Vikings as the class of the NFC….things change.
When reviewing supply chain best practices, visibility to inventory levels throughout the different nodes in your supply chain should be one of the practices your company has embraced. This allows your company to be more nimble and still meet customer service levels when supply chain disruptions and exceptions occur. RSM McGladrey recently released their 2009 Manufacturing and Wholesale Distribution