GS1 Australia has partnered with Foodbank to help tackle Australia’s food insecurity crisis through the GS1 Australia Recall portal, with Foodbank subscribing to receive timely product recall and withdrawal notices.
Foodbank can now receive communication from manufacturers and suppliers about product recalls or withdrawals using the Recall, which is an online portal that streamlines the product recall and withdrawal process.
GS1 Australia’s Head of Supply Chain Improvement Services, Peter Chambers said the portal offers Foodbank the functionality to manage product recalls and remove the items from the Foodbank distribution system accurately and effectively.
“Food safety today is high on the menu with a need for an unequivocal standard practice across the entire food sector. Issuing a recall or withdrawal notification using Recall is simple, fast, and inexpensive,” he said.
Michael Davidson, General Manager – National Supply Chain at Foodbank Australia said Recall would give the hunger relief organisation the ability to immediately be notified in the event of any food item being recalled or withdrawn from the supply chain.
“It also gives manufacturers and suppliers the opportunity to donate product withdrawals as an alternative to that product going into landfill,” he said.
Instead, we will re-direct it across our national network of front-line charities to provide food and grocery items to vulnerable Australians who are doing it tough.”
Foodbank works collaboratively with the Australian food and retail sector and throughout the supply chain to source and distribute food to front line charities around the country.
The organisation receives donations of stock that is out of specification, close to expiry, surplus to requirement, or has incorrect or faulty packaging. As long as the products are safe for human consumption and not part of a product recall, Foodbank can accept them.
“We rely on food donations from a variety of suppliers including farmers, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to help us reach the 3.6 million Australians who are suffering with food insecurity each year,” Davidson said.
“With our vision being an Australia free from hunger and food waste, we are encouraging all suppliers that kindly donate surplus product to also notify us about a product withdrawal as soon as possible.”