Is IoT the Key to the Future of Food Safety?

Sensors are becoming essential components of the supply chain, with temperature sensors being one of the primary concerns. “Temperature has the biggest impact on food safety”, says Brad Walters, CEO of Monnit, a sensor technology company. Companies like Monnit and Delta Trak are integrating smart sensors and devices into the shipping process to create a seamless e-tracking that keeps food cold and prevents pathogens.

Another item on that list of concerns? Environmental testing of pathogens.

“Food producers need to determine at-risk sites for pathogen contamination,” says Andrew Flannery, Ph.D.. Andrew is head of product development in Baltimore-based Pathogen Detection Company, PathSensors, Inc. “These areas can develop into harborage sites because of insufficient cleaning and sanitation. Easy-to-use pathogen identification can help identify these problem areas and make sure the sites are efficiently cleaned to comply with and exceed food safety standards.”

Technologies like Hygiena and CANARY are now able to test, respond and track areas of high risk,  enabling the facilities to have more control over these matters than ever before. Instead of tracking these readings through paperwork and spreadsheets, the capabilities are present to store and share all this information electronically.

And the latest of electronic tracking is a scanner to ensure that employees hands are clean before they encounter any food or food contact surfaces. PathSpot detects any missed pathogens on the hands and sends data that will allow the employees to proceed with their work only if they thoroughly cleaned their hands and are pathogen-free.