Meet Global Food Safety Standards with Confidence

Food manufacturers across the UK, Europe, United States, and South Africa face increasingly stringent traceability requirements. Whether you're meeting BRC standards for UK retailers, IFS Food for European markets, FDA FSMA Rule 204 in the US, EU General Food Law requirements, or FSSC 22000 certification in South Africa, comprehensive digital traceability is no longer optional.

Trace Swift provides complete lot-level traceability designed specifically for food manufacturers in regulated industries. Our platform automates batch tracking, supplier management, and compliance records so you can focus on production rather than paperwork.

Global Food Safety Standards We Support

The Cost of Poor Traceability

When a food safety issue occurs, time is critical. Manual traceability systems using spreadsheets can take days or weeks to trace ingredients back to suppliers or forward to customers. This delay can result in:

• Expanded recalls: Without precise batch tracking, you may need to recall far more product than necessary
• Customer loss: Major retailers (Tesco, Sainsbury's, Walmart, Aldi, Lidl, Carrefour, Pick n Pay) require rapid trace responses. Delays damage commercial relationships
• Certification failure: BRC, IFS Food, FSSC 22000 audits include traceability testing. Failed tests mean failed audits
• Regulatory penalties: FDA enforcement actions, FSA warnings, EU competent authority sanctions, or FSSC withdrawal for inadequate traceability
• Brand damage: Public recalls harm your reputation across all markets
• Financial impact: The average food recall costs £2-10 million in direct expenses alone

What Global Standards Require

Complete Traceability Chain

All major food safety standards require the same fundamental traceability capabilities:

• Supplier batch tracking: Record supplier lot codes for all incoming ingredients
• Internal lot numbers: Unique batch codes for every production run linking ingredients to finished goods
• Forward and backward tracing: Trace from finished product back to raw materials (backward) and from ingredients forward to finished products (forward)
• Mass balance verification: Prove that ingredient quantities match production outputs

Rapid Trace Capability

Speed matters during incidents. Standards require different timeframes:

• FDA FSMA: Complete trace in under 4 hours
• BRC: Traceability test from finished product to raw materials and vice versa within 4 hours
• IFS Food: Traceability test within 2 hours for products with short shelf life
• EU Regulation 178/2002: Immediate traceability capability (one step back, one step forward)
• FSSC 22000: Documented traceability testing at defined intervals

Documentation and Records

Auditors need immediate access to comprehensive records:

• Purchase order records with supplier batch codes
• Production batch sheets showing ingredient usage
• Finished goods lot codes linked to production batches
• Complete audit trail of all traceability data

How Trace Swift Ensures Multi-Standard Compliance

European Food Law Compliance

The European Union's General Food Law (Regulation 178/2002) establishes the foundational traceability requirements for all food businesses operating in the EU. Trace Swift ensures full compliance with EU regulations:

EU Regulation 178/2002 - Article 18

The cornerstone of EU food traceability requires:

• One step back: Identify suppliers and what was received from them
• Forward traceability: Identify which finished products contain specific input lots
• Batch/lot identification: Unique codes linking products throughout the supply chain
• Immediate access: Information must be available immediately to competent authorities

EU FIC 1169/2011 - Food Information to Consumers

For allergen management and labelling compliance:

• Complete traceability of the 14 major allergens through production
• Cross-contamination risk tracking
• Allergen declaration support for EU labelling requirements
• Records demonstrating allergen control measures

IFS Food Certification

Recognised by major European retailers including Aldi, Lidl, Rewe, Carrefour, Metro, and more:

• Section 4.18.1: Traceability system enabling identification of product lots
• Section 4.18.2: Traceability testing at least annually
• Mass balance verification for raw materials and finished products
• Temperature recording and quality checks supporting HACCP

Beyond Compliance: Real Business Benefits

While certification and regulatory compliance are critical, Trace Swift delivers additional value to your food manufacturing operations:

Accurate Cost Calculation

Know the true cost of every product you manufacture. Trace Swift tracks actual ingredient costs, labour, and overhead at the batch level. See real-time margin calculations and identify unprofitable products before they impact your bottom line. Critical for competitive tendering to major retailers across Europe, UK, and internationally.

Inventory Control

Track inventory by batch, lot, and expiration date across multiple locations. First-expired, first-out (FEFO) management prevents waste. Real-time stock levels help optimise working capital whether you're in London, Berlin, Johannesburg, or Texas.

Recipe Management

Digital formulations with automatic ingredient scaling. Version control ensures you're always using approved recipes. Cost cascading shows how ingredient price changes affect finished goods—essential for margin protection in volatile commodity markets.

Production Planning

Schedule production runs based on customer orders, inventory levels, and shelf-life requirements. Optimise batch sizes and minimise changeovers for maximum efficiency.

Purpose-Built for Food Manufacturers

Trace Swift understands the unique challenges of food manufacturing across different markets. Our platform is designed specifically for food businesses producing sauces, dressings, bakery products, beverages, supplements, and other processed foods.

We support common food manufacturing scenarios across all regions:

• Batch production: Track discrete production lots with unique batch codes meeting all standards
• Co-packing: Manage private label manufacturing for UK, EU retailers, or international brands
• Allergen tracking: Trace allergen-containing ingredients through production per EU FIC 1169/2011, UK, and US regulations
• Shelf-life management: Track best-before and use-by dates per local regulations (EU, UK, US, South Africa)
• Rework and reprocessing: Maintain complete traceability when reworking batches

Certification Support Across Regions

European Union - IFS Food & EU Regulations

Trace Swift helps EU manufacturers meet IFS Food and EU regulatory requirements:

• Complete traceability system for IFS Section 4.18 requirements
• EU Regulation 178/2002 compliance (one step back, one step forward)
• Mass balance calculations and reconciliation
• Documented traceability testing procedures and results
• EU allergen traceability per Regulation 1169/2011
• Records ready for competent authority inspections
• Support for EU Organic Regulation (EC 834/2007) traceability

United Kingdom - BRC Certification

Trace Swift helps UK manufacturers meet BRC Global Standard requirements:

• Complete traceability system ready for Section 3.9 audit requirements
• Mass balance calculations for traceability verification
• Documented traceability test procedures and results
• Supplier approval and monitoring records
• Mock recall documentation

United States - FDA FSMA Compliance

For US manufacturers, Trace Swift provides FSMA Rule 204 compliance:

• Automated capture of Critical Tracking Events (CTEs)
• Key Data Elements (KDEs) recorded for each CTE
• Traceability lot code generation and management
• Sub-4-hour trace capability as required by FDA
• Digital records with audit trails and user attribution

South Africa & International - FSSC 22000

Trace Swift supports FSSC 22000 certification requirements:

• ISO 22000 traceability clause support (Clause 8.9)
• Product identification and traceability throughout production
• Records enabling traceability of non-conforming products
• Temperature recording and quality checks supporting HACCP
• Production batch records and audit trails

Implementation in Days, Not Months

Unlike complex ERP systems requiring lengthy implementations, Trace Swift is designed for rapid deployment across all regions:

1. Day 1-2: Setup - Create your account, set up ingredients, suppliers, and production formulations
2. Day 3-5: Go-Live - Start recording production and tracking batches in real production
3. Ongoing: Support - UK-based email support helps you optimise your processes

Most customers achieve full traceability compliance within their first week. No consultants required. No lengthy configuration. Just practical software that works.

Transparent, Affordable Pricing

Food manufacturing software shouldn't require enterprise budgets. Trace Swift pricing starts at £90/month with no long-term contracts or hidden fees.

• All features included in every plan
• Unlimited ingredients, recipes, and batches
• Full FDA, BRC, IFS, and FSSC 22000 compliance capabilities
• Regular software updates and improvements
• Email support during UK business hours

Your Data Stays Yours

Your recipes, formulations, and production data are proprietary business assets. Trace Swift treats them with the confidentiality they deserve:

• Strict multi-tenant architecture ensures complete data isolation
• Hosted on secure AWS infrastructure in the EU West (Ireland) region
• Follows GDPR principles (EU General Data Protection Regulation)
• Follows POPIA principles (South Africa Protection of Personal Information Act)
• US privacy law compliant
• Encrypted data transmission and storage
• You retain full ownership of your data
• EU data residency ensures your data never leaves European borders

Start Your Free Trial Today

Experience global food safety compliance without commitment. Our 14-day free trial includes:

• Full access to all features (no limited trial version)
• Sample data for food manufacturers to explore functionality
• Email support to answer your questions

See how Trace Swift can transform your food manufacturing traceability and compliance processes whether you're in London, Berlin, Johannesburg, or anywhere in between. Sign up in minutes and start tracking your first batch today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Trace Swift work for small food manufacturers?

Yes. Trace Swift is designed for small to medium food manufacturers (5-150 employees). Our pricing and functionality are tailored for businesses that need professional traceability for BRC, IFS, FSSC, or FDA compliance without enterprise complexity or cost.

How long does a traceability trace take?

Most traces complete in under 5 minutes. This easily meets FDA's 4-hour requirement, BRC's traceability test standards, IFS's 2-hour requirement for short shelf-life products, and EU immediate availability requirements. Digital records make tracing nearly instantaneous compared to manual spreadsheet searches.

Will this help me pass my BRC audit?

Yes. Trace Swift is designed to meet BRC Global Standard Section 3.9 (Traceability) requirements. We provide complete traceability systems, mass balance verification, and the batch records auditors expect to see.

Does Trace Swift support IFS Food certification?

Yes. Trace Swift is designed to meet IFS Food Version 8 requirements, particularly Section 4.18 (Traceability). We provide complete traceability systems, mass balance verification, and production records expected during IFS audits.

Is the system compliant with EU regulations?

Yes. Trace Swift meets EU General Food Law (Regulation 178/2002) Article 18 traceability requirements, EU Food Information to Consumers Regulation (1169/2011) for allergen traceability, and provides records suitable for Official Controls under Regulation 2017/625. Our data is hosted in the EU (Ireland) for GDPR compliance.

What about FSSC 22000 certification?

Trace Swift supports FSSC 22000 Clause 8.9 (Traceability) and related ISO 22000 requirements. Our system provides the documented traceability procedures and records required for certification and ongoing compliance.

What if I have questions or need help?

We provide email support during UK business hours (Monday-Friday, 9:00-17:00 GMT). Most support queries receive responses within 24 hours.

Can I cancel anytime?

Yes. Trace Swift operates on monthly subscriptions with no long-term contracts. You can cancel at any time and your cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period.

Where is my data stored?

Your data is stored on secure AWS servers in the EU West (Ireland) region. We implement industry-standard security including encryption, regular backups, and strict access controls to protect your confidential recipes and production data. EU data residency ensures GDPR compliance.