PFFC - July 2008 - (Page 35)

The views and opinions expressed in Technical Reports are those of the author(s), not those of the editors of PFFC. Please address comments to author(s). It’s a Different Time New Technology A covert edible marker for food chain security and defense strategy has been developed. The microscopic edible markers or microtags can be used as a direct food additive for finished food goods authentication. Accordingly, markers are used to verify brand authenticity but also can be useful in supply chain component verification. These microtag markers comprise GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) materials and approximate a disc-like structure that is 100 microns in diameter (the diameter of a human hair) by 20 microns in thickness. One pound of markers contains billions of microtags. Marking does not require a high concentration of markers to secure the item. Consider taggants as micron-sized edible ID markers. Marker applications may include processed foods, animal feeds, crop identification, and over-the-counter drug and on-tablet pharmaceutical authentication. Researchers also are considering these markers for animal identification and diagnostics in food metabolism studies. Taggants can be added directly into animal feeds, offering the feed manufacturer a security opportunity. Additionally, taggants can be designed to survive the gut tract providing a forensic individual animal identification method in the distribution chain. Indicia Information The unique feature of the marker is that it bares indicia. Indicia is content-relevant information like a product name, batch code, brand logo, or any other important identifying feature chosen by the brand owner. The entire area of the face of the disc can be considered the brand owner’s “design space.” The choice and design of indicia are nearly endless. If it is easier to understand, think of the microtag as a 100-micron diameter cookie with written information or design on its surface that can be incorporated into the food product. Microtag design can be simple or complex based on the brand owner’s interests. This is a covert microtag composed of cellulose and vegetable oil. The “ARmark” company name is an example of indicia. The total area of the disc can be considered the brand owner’s “design space.” These microtags may contain any content-relevant information from batch codes, bar codes, logos, symbols, or other hieratic code that the manufacturer chooses to covertly associate with its product for identity. This is an example of a self-authentication option involving packaging and contents. In this example, the microtag is incorporated into the extruded packaging bag material. The same tag design also is indigenous to the This edible microtag is on a spinach leaf. produce. The 2-D bar code on the package exterior is programmed to identify the tag indicia. The examiner simply reads the code to discover what tag should be in contact with the contents. The content-relevant information is the choice of the brand owner. The information could be as simple as a longitude-latitude or a detailed batch code. Coordinating the package and the contents is the ultimate in traceability. WWW.PFFC-ONLINE.COM Not too long ago it was called “food safety”; today it is called “food defense.” Food chain security is vital to this country. The Bioterrorist Act of 2002 and Homeland Security Act of 2002 stipulate protective action in the event of deliberate adulteration of animal and human food and agricultural and pharmaceutical products. The acts require brand owners and manufacturers to manage and verify supply chain violations in the event of a deliberate breach. Import border protection is also an issue covered by these laws. The human and pet food industries both have experienced problems that led to deaths within each market sector. Packaging plays an import sentry role when a crisis arises. Inspectors often are inundated with packaged food samples in the attempt to find the culprit. The spinach scare of 2006 and the pet food scare of 2007 are clear examples of how important it is to verify the origin of contents. More recently the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has formalized its Food Protection Plan (November 2007). The core elements of this plan involve prevention, intervention, and response. Prevention involves building in safety processes from the start. Intervention includes intervening when risks are identified and verifying prevention. Response criteria are intended to expedite a resolution to the problem to stabilize the economic impact and consumer confidence from residual damage. Within these elements are four crosscutting principles: reducing risk through product life cycle; identifying resources to reduce risk; mitigating both intentional and unintentional contamination; and using science and modern technology to resolve issues. US “across the board” compliance with these acts and plans still is not thoroughly implemented. There are 30 principal laws administered by 15 separate agencies. And there is a new Food Safety bill now under consideration to define oversight responsibility for many of these agencies. Nevertheless, the real search is for a versatile solution to the food defense problem. Change is painful. Regrettably, there are difficulties and confusion understanding these laws. Moreover, there are gaps in state-of-the-art food chain security that limit traceability to external packaging technology rather than the food content itself. Optional technologies like authentication and traceability may be one of the more important science and technology options available to enable intervention in a food defense response. Integrating authentication technologies at a level that is in direct contact with food is one option to get closer to tracing problems upstream. JULY 2008 | 35 http://WWW.PFFC-ONLINE.COM

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of PFFC - July 2008

PFFC - July 2008 Contents First Glance Calendar of Events From the Editor Web Lines Process Management News Clips Narrow Web & Label Reporter Narrow Web & Label What’s New Products Cover: Special Report Start with Security 2008 TAPPI PLACE Conference Printing Partnerships Paper’s Pledge Edible Markers Flexography Exclusive Research: Critical Trends What’s New Products Services Directory Classified Marketplace Advertisers Index Experience Speaks

PFFC - July 2008

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