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Transparency in the food chain is considered a very positive concept. More importantly, transparency is seen as a key driver of trust.HalalMarkets are booming globally, and the question is whether increased transparency can improve globalHalalTrust and overall integrity of the supply chain.

Efforts to increase transparency in the food chain are driven by globalization, advances in information technology, and a growing focus by governments on sustainability, environmental accountability, and information disclosure. Scholars argue that the true benefits of transparency may come from the questions it forces organizations to consider, rather than the outcomes it ultimately achieves.

When applied toHalalWhen it comes to food, the concepts of transparency and trust force us to engage with the complexities and nuances of the industry.SwissDeCodeCEOBrij SahiHad a conversation,SwissDeCodeis a Geneva-based provider of mobile analytical testing technologies for food safety and food authenticity.

Brij“We know that Muslims must ensure that the products they use or consume areHalalFood and permitted products, which is a huge challenge and depends onHalalTransparency and trust in the food industry."

In fact, there are many challenges to achieve this.HalalIn the food chain, blind trust in supply chain participants and regulatory oversight is not the best option.

Historically,HalalFood chains are local, clustered in tight-knit communities in villages, towns, and cities around the world.HalalConsumers visit their local greengrocer, butcher, baker and bulk food supplier, and transparency and trust are built on these face-to-face interactions.

However, the globalization of the food chain means that Muslim communities now have access to moreHalalThese products can also travel greater distances and pass through many hands, increasing the opportunity for bad actors to engage in financially motivated adulteration, such as making false claims about the product and its ingredients.Halal。

Economic theory helps us understand our role in enhancingHalalChallenges in transparency and trust in the food chain. For example, food products can have traceability, experience or reputation attributes.

TraceabilityAttributes can be price, product size, availability, and consumers can freelyTraceabilityInformation. Of course, data must be available, accessible, and accurate.

Experiential attributes such as claims that a product is nutritious, heart-healthy, or delicious can only be verified after consumers eat or drink the product.

On the contrary,HalalCredit claims such as are considered “unobservable” claims and are often viewed by consumers as non-verifiable attributes. This means that it is often impossible for consumers to verify food quality, food safety, or whether a food is organic, free-range, or otherwise, before or after purchase.HalalTherefore, the key questions are:

How we help consumers address their primary search and authentication needs?

The European Union is a good example of a country that has developed comprehensive regulations(EU 1169), requiring digital information for food products to be identical to physical product labels. In addition, allergens must be clearly labeled online, on products, and on restaurant menus.

I recentlyHalalE-commerce CenterOneAgrixCEODiana SabrainDiana (Diana)rightHalal foodThe vision of chain integrity includes access to accurate and verified product information and verified sources of reputable claims. When I asked for an example, Diana pointed out,

“Muslims eat according to their customs and what they need is a trusted brand that is supported by a trust system.Halalfood-This is evident from the demands of end consumers for traceability and transparency in food products.

“ OneAgrixUsing advanced technologies including blockchain, smart contracts, and collaborating with partners who provide food packaging safety features. At the ingredient level, we are now exploringSwissDeCodeProvides easy-to-useHalalFood testing kits. They can be found atDNAProvide us with100% guaranteed to ensureHalalThese tools will help us position food companies as reliable sources that Muslim consumers can trust.”

SwissDeCodeHalalThe test is called DNAFoil Pork",At2016Launched in 2016, it is one of the first solutions for rapid testing of pork. DNAFoilIs a versatile "sample to result" test kit that detects porcine in any food productDNAMore importantly, because the test is a field or point-of-use test, it can be performed by an operator rather than a scientist without concern for the integrity of the test results.DNA, and has successfully identified many pigDNAAs low as0.01Examples of successful tests include ground or mixed meats, processed and convenience foods, cheese, dairy products, finely ground foods and many more.

OneAgrixHelping brands and consumers address two key challenges;Facilitate online searches for informationHalalTrusted attributes of products and providing infrastructure and tools to enable consumers to verify credential claims before purchasing. This is unique because invisible credential claims(Such as certificationHalal)Then move to a search attribute where consumers can verify online that the company and product meet the criteria before purchasing.HalalCertification.

useSwissDeCodeRegular market monitoring and field testing using tools can help reduce the risk of counterfeit or contaminated products because they can be quickly detected andHalalClear them from the chain.

DianaDiana) explained that their platform links to authoritative sources of trust claims, such as food auditing companies,HalalCertification bodies and other bodies responsible for verifying claims or issuing certificates of conformity. This means that independent sources, independent of the brand owner, can be used to verify credibility claims. Diana explains: “This process enhancesHalalThe integrity of the food chain.”

As some rogue companies continue to falsely claim that their processing plants and products areHalalFood, likeOneAgrixSuch solutions utilize modern technologies like blockchain andSwissDeCode DNAFoilSuch analytical scientific tools will bring about huge changes. They will help reduce information asymmetry between brands and consumers, improve transparency and enhance consumer confidenceHalalTrust in the product.

Because food fraud is a growing global problem, we should be asking CEOsBrijandDianaSalute, congratulate and wish them all the best as they face these challenges.