GS1 Australia has been assisting Woolworths to embark on a 2D barcode trial. Starting from August, 2D barcodes will be placed on fresh meat and poultry product sold via Woolworths supermarkets nationally.

This trial has the potential to help reduce millions of tonnes of food waste generated in Australia each year, and will eliminate the risk of customers purchasing expired products. 

Unlike traditional barcodes, 2D barcodes store data in two dimensions, rather than in just a series of black and white bars. 2D barcodes contain information about the product’s batch, supplier, used by date, and serial numbers.  When scanned at the point of sale, customers can be alerted if a product is past its expiry date and the system won’t allow the purchase. The ability to add expiry dates  to a product’s barcode will thus help eliminate any risk of retailers selling out of date products to consumers.

During a product recall, the information supplied by 2D barcodes will allow retailers to pinpoint the specific batch affected and trace it back through the production line, making it easier to identify the source of contamination. It has immense potential to improve traceability and hence food safety.

The original article is published by Food&Beverage Industry News and can be found here.

For more information on how you can get a barcode or implement 2D barcodes, call us at 68263077.