Food Traceability
Definition
The ability to track and trace food products forward through the supply chain to consumers and backward to their source ingredients and suppliers.
Regulatory Source
- Standard 3.2.2— Food safety practices — food businesses must identify the immediate supplier and immediate recipient of food to support traceability and recall
Last verified against current standards: April 2026
Regulatory authority: Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ)
What is Food Traceability?
Food traceability is the ability to follow food products and ingredients through all stages of production, processing, and distribution. It encompasses both forward traceability (tracking from source to consumer) and backward traceability (tracing from consumer back to source).
Traceability Requirements in Australia
Australian food businesses are required to be able to identify:
- Where their ingredients came from (one step back)
- Where their products went (one step forward)
This "one-up, one-down" traceability is the minimum requirement for food safety compliance.
Related Terms
Batch Tracking
The process of recording and managing production batches in food manufacturing, enabling forward and backward traceability from raw materials to finished products.
Recall Readiness
The preparedness of a food manufacturer to conduct a product recall quickly and effectively, including having traceability systems, communication plans, and documented procedures in place.
Supply Chain
The complete network of organisations, people, activities, and resources involved in producing and delivering food products from raw material sourcing through to final consumer.