Zhejiang introduces food-tracking system

Residents of Zhejiang province are now able to access comprehensive information about food products, including the product’s name, origin, manufacturer, and production and expiration dates, by simply scanning a QR code on the packaging with WeChat or Alipay.

A provincial platform using the internet of things and artificial intelligence technology was put into operation on Monday, the 39th World Consumer Rights Day, to ensure all food products entering the market are traceable, the province’s market regulator said.

“Previously, I knew imported cold-chain food was traceable and now information about domestic products can also be accessible with the tracing system, so I feel comfortable and safe,” said a resident surnamed Wang when scanning a QR code on a carton of Chinese milk at a supermarket in Hangzhou, the provincial capital.

Companies producing food in Zhejiang will be required to upload data about their products onto the platform, and qualified products will be labeled with a traceable code, said Liu Xuan, chief engineer of the platform.

A total of 5,000 food producers and businesses are expected to be added to the tracing system by the end of the year.

Logistics companies can use the system to manage their warehousing and transactions, while consumers can get the information they need.

“Information will be reported to the provincial market supervision bureau if products do not pass food safety inspections, and the market supervision bureau can promptly issue recalls and safety alerts,” a bureau official said.

The provincial administration for market regulation launched a tracing system for imported cold-chain food in June.