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Food origin information

Food origin information refers to the geographical origin of a product or its raw materials—that is, where the food was grown, raised, processed, or produced. Origin information is often used to ensure quality, sustainability, and consumer confidence.

Traceability involves a complex process. Before a food product is ready for consumption, it accumulates traceability data from primary production through processing to manufacturing. The information also varies and changes from one production batch to another: raw materials may be sourced from different farms, producers, or countries, and multiple batches of raw materials from different origins may be mixed during the production of a single batch.

Origin data is closely linked to product traceability and supply chain management. It supports supply chain monitoring, compliance verification, and risk management. At the same time, this information often needs to be shared with trading partners so that the entire supply chain can operate transparently and reliably.

  • For consumers, information about the origin of food is an important factor in purchasing decisions, and it comes with strong expectations of transparency.
  • For companies, origin and sustainability issues can be a strategic choice and part of a brand promise, but they are also increasingly linked to legal requirements.
  • Regulations based on the due diligence require that companies know the origin of their raw materials and products and be able to demonstrate compliance in practice.

The benefits of interoperable origin information

GS1 standards enable the seamless flow of food traceability data throughout the food supply chain. This means that data is recorded and transferred digitally in a standardised format throughout the entire chain, which also allows for the use of automation in processes.

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Helps verify compliance with legal requirements

Legislation and regulatory requirements increasingly demand accurate information on the origin of products and raw materials. Interoperable origin data makes it easier to demonstrate compliance and supports regulatory reporting when the necessary information is available in a standardised and thus easily usable format.

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Enhances supply chain traceability and risk management

When origin data is accurate and interoperable, supply chain traceability improves significantly. This speeds up the management of crisis situations, such as recalls, and enables batch-specific investigations when necessary, rather than relying on general origin labels. At the same time, the company can manage risks more proactively and respond to deviations effectively.

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Improves transparency and consumer trust

Interoperable traceability makes the origin of food clearer and easier for consumers to understand. It helps companies communicate about origin and sustainability in a verifiable and reliable way, which supports the brand and reinforces sustainability commitments. Transparency builds trust throughout the entire food chain.

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Enables efficiency and innovation

Interoperable traceability data makes the food supply chain more efficient and reliable. Consistent data enables smooth and efficient information exchange and lays the groundwork for automated and scalable solutions that support the entire food supply chain. At the same time, it creates the conditions for innovation and new ways to utilise data. Companies can, for example, develop value-added products and services where origin is a central and verifiable part of the value proposition.

 

Levels of accuracy for origin data

Information regarding a product’s origin can be divided into master data and information that varies by batch.

Product master data is general and unchanging in nature. It includes all countries of origin from which the product’s raw materials come. This provides an overview of the product’s possible origins, but does not specify which origin was used in a particular batch.

Batch-specific origin information, on the other hand, specifies exactly which country or producer the raw materials for that particular production batch come from. It reflects the actual origin and enables precise traceability as well as batch-specific sustainability and quality control.

The data model for origin master data includes

  • country of origin
  • origin information text
  • product production stage + country
  • ingredients list
  • production stage of the ingredient + country
  • production method

The building blocks of interoperable traceability data

1. Global Identifiers

Central to a product’s origin information are the GTIN, which uniquely identifies the product or raw material, and the GLN, which identifies the supply chain actor or location indicating the origin. Together, these identification codes form the basis for interoperable origin information: they specify exactly which product or raw material is involved and to which location or actor the origin relates, and they enable the correct origin information to be linked to the correct product throughout the food supply chain.

2. Connecting the Physical and Digital Worlds

GS1 capturing standards, such as barcodes and EPC/RFID tags, link physical items to their data. They always contain a unique identifier that enables systems to link the right data to the right item at every stage of the supply chain—whether it’s a product, a location, or actor.

3. Common data sharing structure

GS1 sharing standards, such as the EPCIS transaction data standard and the GDSN product data standard, provide a unified structure and format for data exchange between different actors in the supply chain. They enable business partners to easily and efficiently exchange, for example, basic product information, transaction data regarding orders, or event data on a product’s various stages in the value chain.