Food safety and transparency in food chains and networks Relationships and challenges Adrie J.M. Beulens a, * , Douwe-Frits Broens b,1 , Peter Folstar c , Gert Jan Hofstede d a Department of Social Sciences, Information Technology Group, Wageningen University, Dreijenplein 2, Wageningen 6703 HB, The Netherlands b KLICT, Applied research programme on Transparency in Food Chains, P.O. Box 3060, ‘s-Hertogenbosch 5203 DB, The Netherlands c Nationaal Regie-Orgaan Genomics (Netherlands Genomics Initiative) and Wageningen University, P.O. Box 93035, The Hague 2509 AA, The Netherlands d Department of Social Sciences, Information Technology Group, Wageningen University, Dreijenplein 2, Wageningen 6703 HB, The Netherlands Received 31 July 2003; received in revised form 11 October 2003; accepted 13 October 2003 Abstract European consumers are worried about the safety of their food. These concerns are caused by a continuing sequence of food scandals and incidents during the last decade. In response, consumers call for high quality food, food integrity, safety guarantees and transparency. Governments are imposing new legislation. Retailers are imposing new demands on their supply chains. Food supply chains react by implementing systems to improve the product’s quality and guarantee its safety, at the same time making transparent that they do so. Such actions can be taken at the level of either the individual company or the complete network of supply chains. We describe the challenges involved in achieving food safety and transparency by cooperating in the supply chain network. To this end, we elaborate on a real world case in an SME environment. Ó 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Food safety; Food supply chains; Transparency 1. Food quality as a driver for change Food safety is currently considered to be an impor- tant issue for all stakeholders in food production. Consumers and other stakeholders are increasingly concerned about the continuing sequence of food scan- dals and incidents (extensively described by Van Dorp, 2004).Thesescandalsoftenobtainwidecoverageinthe newsmediaandinprofessionalpublications.Asaresult, consumers are familiar with BSE, dioxin, FMD, MPA, Nitrofen,andothercontaminantsthatwerefoundwide spread in food products due to errors in production processes and or associated with the use of contami- nated raw materials or production means. Due to poor hygiene in institutional kitchens, catering and private households, there is an upward trend of reported food incidents involving salmonella, campylobacter and E. coli 0157:H7. Consumer perceptions thus show an increasing con- cern about food safety and about properties of the food they buy and eat. Although much information is available as a result of labelling conventions, this does not always translate into more confidence. It is of great importance to the food industry to protect brands in order to restore and maintain consumer con- fidence.Ithasbeenrecognisedthatthereisanincreasing need for transparent information on the quality of the entire food chain, supported by modern tracking and tracing methods (Trienekens & Beulens, 2001). High quality food, integrity and associated services and information should be guaranteed. Consumers call for food that can be fully trusted, they ask for safety guarantees and information with integrity to confirm their trust. (Integrity of information is defined as ‘the information provided is in conformance with the reality it depicts’.) This call is voiced in particular by retailers who state requirements to be met by their suppliers, and is further enhanced by NGOs and legis- lators. The EU is preparing new policies, regulations and laws, in particular the General Food Law (GFL). The * Corresponding author. E-mail address: d.f.broens@hccnet.nl (D.-F. Broens). 1 Fax: +31-73-5229850. 0956-7135/$ - see front matter Ó 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.foodcont.2003.10.010 Food Control 16 (2005) 481–486 www.elsevier.com/locate/foodcont