“It’s definitely ours.”
- Diana Lupu | EDL Food Compliance Solutions
- 14 minutes ago
- 1 min read
That might be reassuring… but it isn’t traceability.
What happened?
Product was returned for repacking, but there was no clear batch identification, production date, use-by date or reliable record linking it back to its original production.
The product might have looked familiar, and everyone might have been confident it belonged to the business — but confidence is not the same as traceability.
Why it matters
Traceability becomes critical when something goes wrong. Without reliable records, it can be difficult to identify the affected batch, determine where the product has gone or define the correct scope of a withdrawal or recall.
Good traceability protects both the consumer and the business by allowing decisions to be made quickly and with confidence.
What good looks like
A robust traceability system should allow you to establish:
what the product is
when and where it was produced
which materials or batches were used
what happened to it during production
where it went afterwards
And that information needs to be available quickly, accurately and consistently — not dependent on somebody remembering.
Key lesson: “It’s definitely ours” is not traceability. If you cannot demonstrate the product’s identity, history and status, you do not have full control.
What would you do?
If an unlabelled product was returned to your production area for repacking, what evidence would you require before allowing it to be used?
This educational scenario is inspired by real-world food manufacturing experience. Products, people, locations and circumstances may be adapted or combined to protect confidentiality.
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