UK starts RFID food tracking

A division of the UK`s British Telecom group has set up an RFID-enabled network for tracking food products to enable retailers and manufacturers exchange product data and reduce the cost of recalling contaminated products by improving the speed and accuracy of the process.

Food Production Daily says the new network provides retailers and their suppliers with round-the-clock access to real-time, synchronised data on the current and historical status of all stock items as they flow through the supply chain from manufacturer to point of sale.

The article says although high costs have so far slowed adoption of RFID-enabled systems to track goods, the new network set up by BT could put more retailer pressure on processors to invest in the technology.

An Australian trial has found the increased visibility enabled by the sharing of RFID-collected data across a supply chain yields measurable benefits to players throughout a consumer goods supply chain, reports RFID Journal.

Overseen by GS1 Australia, the project tagged nearly 500 pallets and products shipped on them with the aim of fostering interest in RFID among Australian businesses.

GS1 says the results show businesses can use the EPC Network to share data, and there are benefits to be gained by companies throughout a supply chain.

IBM has released three new tools aimed at developers and students that the company hopes will accelerate the adoption of RFID technology.

RFID Update says IBM cites the widely-reported shortage of qualified RFID workers as a key hurdle to faster adoption of the technology.

IBM is offering the tools free of charge on IBM`s Alphaworks site, which it maintains to promote the understanding and development of emerging technology.