World Health Organization data shows around 420,000 people die each year globally after eating contaminated food. One in 10 people also fall ill because of bacteria, chemicals, parasites, toxins and viruses in food. However, better food safety monitoring can prevent many of those deaths and illnesses. A group of 10 food supply chain companies (including Dole, Nestlé, Unilever and Walmart) are now working together, using the IBM Blockchain platform, to increase the transparency and safety of their food supply chains. Their blockchain, named “IBM Food Trust”, digitally traces and authenticates food products from supplier to store shelf, reducing contamination, spoilage and economic loss.3
With the new blockchain solution, when a problem arises, the companies can “quickly identify what the source of contamination… and where all the potential points of contamination could be – using the data to pinpoint the source”.4 Previously, it could take weeks to precisely identify a point of food contamination. Now there is potential to quickly prevent further illness, lost revenue and food wastage.
