Rapid Recall Exchange Garners Food Safety Honor

The International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) has awarded Rapid Recall Exchange its Food Safety Innovation Award. The honor recognizes new ideas, practices, or products that have a positive impact on food safety, thereby enhancing public health and quality of life.

Created in September 2009 by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and GS1 US, Rapid Recall Exchange provides timely, accurate product recall and withdrawal notifications to program members by means of a Web-based service that enables two-way communication between suppliers and retailers/wholesalers. In under than two years, more than 600 companies have subscribed to the exchange, among them 21 of the 24 largest supermarket chains based in the United States.

”Rapid Recall Exchange makes a critical contribution by enhancing food safety,” said Leslie G. Sarasin, president and CEO of Arlington, Va.-based FMI. “It takes advantage of technological advancements in information exchange to ensure the food provided to consumers is safe.”

“This is great recognition, not only for the innovation that went into the service, but for the companies that put their time and insights into its development,” added Bob Carpenter, president and CEO of Lawrenceville, N.J.-based GS1 US, a not-for-profit organization that brings industry communities together to solve supply-chain problems through the adoption and implementation of GS1 standards. “As a result of exemplary collaboration among food industry professionals, consumers now can be more confident knowing that many in the grocery industry are using a reliable, efficient and world-class food recall service.”

The award presentation will take place at IAFP 2011, scheduled for July 31-Aug. 3 in Milwaukee.