Creating standardised data lists for traceability: a study of honey processing

Abstract

In food supply chains, there are numerous measurements, properties and parameters that must be recorded. This documentation is already necessary for legal reasons, labelling, traceability, profiling desirable characteristics, showing compliance and for meeting customer requirements. Standards for name and content of each of these data elements would aid information exchange between buyers, sellers, authorities, consumers and other interested parties. To establish what could form such a list of standard data elements for honey processors, a multi-stage survey was carried out. This and other research resulted in a standardised list of data elements capable of application by all honey processors.