The expansiveness of today’s cold food supply chain makes the industry particularly sensitive to vulnerabilities. It is not unusual for processors to import ingredients from around the world and then export finished goods to many different countries, all the while maintaining product purity.
In today’s cold food supply chain, vulnerabilities come in many forms. Some will be more visible and easier to manage while others will be virtually invisible and extremely difficult to control. As one considers the role of a supply chain executive leading an organization that uses spices grown in India, vegetables grown in Mexico or seafood from China, how much detail can the company learn about these products and the suppliers from which they are procured? Despite on-site visits, laboratory analysis and audits, available information is never enough. Unexpected problems still pop up. And, sometimes unidentified additives or ingredients fail to meet FDA standards.