Is IoT the Key to the Future of Food Safety? | IoT For All
We are in wake of a 25 state E.Coli outbreak that was traced back to Romaine lettuce out of Yuma, Arizona, causing 75 hospitalizations and a death. We’re also currently in the midst of the largest food recall since 2010, with 200+ million eggs being recalled for Salmonella and 22 confirmed cases of illness so far. Both of these outbreaks could have been stopped at the source, but instead it has taken weeks to track down and identify.
These outbreaks are a call to action for better Food Safety Practices, and we are quickly seeing the solution for these issues in the world of IoT. From sensors that read temperature or record time from harvest, to pathogen detection reading bacteria count in various areas and indicating the risk points (known as hazard control points), IoT is making food safety easier and making any problems like the recent outbreaks more traceable.
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.