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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania » Eastern Regional Research Center » Characterization and Interventions for Foodborne Pathogens » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #264157
Title: RFID technologies for imported foods inspection

Author
item BAI, LI - Temple University
item Yan, Xianghe
item BISWAS, SAROJ - Temple University
item Fratamico, Pina

Submitted to: Omics Technologies and Microbial Modeling in Food-borne Pathogens
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/20/2011
Publication Date: 1/5/2012
Citation: Bai, L., Yan, X., Biswas, S., Fratamico, P.M. 2012. RFID technologies for imported foods inspection. In: Yan, X., Juneja, V., Fratamico, P., Smith, J., editors. Omics Technologies and Microbial Modeling in Food-borne Pathogens. Lancaster, PA: DEStech Publishers. p. 603-614.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Food-borne illness typically occurs due to contamination of food products with Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes and other pathogens. Unfortunately, it takes several weeks to identify the source of such contamination, possibly due to lack of a central database system that is capable of tracking food products and a real-time food safety decision tool. In addition, the volume of imported foods to the US has been increasing at an alarming rate since 1994, which makes inspection at port-of-entry a daunting task. It is important to develop an information infrastructure for food safety using a sustainable Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) system. The system consists of a) a passive RFID interface for sensing of shipped items, b) a portable handheld system for automatic data logging and alerts, and c) a central database system for food safety data and coordination. This system can facilitate automatic data logging and real-time data reporting, networking, and coordination among the various users of food safety information, from production to consumption. Successful implementation of the system can be expanded in the future to a comprehensive food safety and risk assessment system for tracking all food products within the US.