Highlighting its commitment to setting a new standard for food safety, Wiliot has announced a significant new food safety initiative. This initiative aims to create transparent and traceable supply chains, essential for FSMA 204 compliance, through the adoption of ambient IoT technology.
Ambient IoT is a battery-free wireless technology integrated into various wireless standards such as Bluetooth, 5G Advanced, 6G, and Wi-Fi. This technology enables food products to connect to the internet and utilise AI capabilities at a lower cost compared to traditional technologies. Ambient IoT facilitates a new real-time inventory system that enhances food safety and FSMA compliance, improves store operations, and allows competition based on quality and value.
As part of this initiative, Wiliot is collaborating with iFoodDS and Trustwell to integrate its ambient IoT data and technology into their safety and compliance platforms.
“Empowered by the unprecedented capabilities of the ambient IoT, the entire food industry can move beyond QR codes, advance shipping notices, and electronic documentation to a new traceability paradigm that is infinitely faster, entirely real-time, and drastically reduces the cost of manual labour and technology infrastructure,” said Steve Statler, CMO, Wiliot. “We look forward to working with iFoodDS and Trustwell to help some of the country’s largest food companies both meet FSMA 204 requirements, while simultaneously adding more value in terms of sustainability, freshness, and operational efficiency that advances the entire food industry.”
Trustwell’s software and consulting solutions aim to increase transparency across the supply chain, providing food companies with the tools to stay ahead of industry regulations. Trustwell combines FoodLogiQ and Genesis to go beyond compliance, setting a new standard for safety, transparency, and quality in the food industry.
“The incorporation of Wiliot’s ambient IoT data into our Trustwell Connect Platform will empower brands to have visibility across the supply chain with a trusted single source of truth, fully traceable, compliant and data-driven,” said Julie McGill, Vice President of Supply Chain Strategy and Insights at Trustwell. “More than 2500 brands around the world rely on Trustwell to manage their regulatory requirements with more than 200 million Critical Tracking Events recorded using our FoodLogiQ Traceability software. The incorporation of Wiliot’s ambient IoT data into our tech solution is going to enable us to take food safety to a new level of traceability with precise execution.”
iFoodDS supports food companies in delivering traceable, high-quality products to consumers. Its solutions enhance supply chain visibility, reduce food waste, and optimise inventory quality.
“FDA’s Final Traceability Rule, FSMA 204, provides an important framework for the food industry,” added Andrew Kennedy, Principal Traceability Advisor, iFoodDS. “The food industry can leverage this framework in conjunction with Wiliot’s Ambient IoT technology and iFoodDS software to significantly enhance food safety, food freshness, and operational efficiency. This game changing technology will help usher in the New Era of Smarter Food Safety.”
Modernising food safety is crucial for public health. The CDC estimates that each year, one in six Americans contracts a foodborne illness, with 128,000 hospitalised and 3000 fatalities. In November 2022, the FDA finalised its FSMA Rule 204, establishing a foundation for end-to-end food traceability, aiming to improve responses to foodborne illnesses and other public health issues. The food industry must comply with Rule 204 by January 2026.
Wiliot’s battery-free ambient IoT Pixels can attach to any food product or packaging, connecting it to the internet and embedding intelligence. These Pixels provide real-time data on location, temperature, carbon footprint, and more, equipping food retailers and companies with the high-definition data required by FSMA Rule 204.
Wiliot is already collaborating with iFoodDS and Trustwell on several FSMA 204 compliance pilot projects with major food companies. These collaborations will continue to expand throughout 2024, ahead of the January 2026 FSMA compliance deadline.
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