In our latest FAQ, we look to provide information around these topics that seemingly have been in the news throughout much of the summer.
|Articles|November 28, 2016
Powerhouse Partnership Aims to Improve Food Safety Practices in China
Author(s)Kristi Rosa
IBM, Walmart, and Tsinghua University have partnered up to improve food safety practices in China.
Advertisement
An impressive partnership has been established between IBM, Walmart, and Tsinghua University, as they band together in an effort to strengthen food safety practices in China. Researchers have come up with an innovative solution that they hope will significantly improve the way that food is tracked, transported, and sold: blockchain technology.
“China’s rapid economic growth has led to massive opportunities for innovation, but it has also presented quality of life challenges, including helping to assure that food sold in the country is safe to eat, said professor Chai Yueting, PhD, from the National Engineering Laboratory for E-Commerce Technologies, Tsinghua University, in IBM’s official
In order to find the source of any food contamination, food authentication and supply chain tracking are crucial. Researchers feel that blockchain technology can be used to strengthen these avenues due to its accuracy; it is essentially an unchangeable ledger of transactions.
IBM Blockchain, based on the Linux Foundation
“Advanced technology has reached into so many aspects of modern life but it has lagged in food traceability, and in particular in creating more secure food supply chains. Our collaboration with Walmart and Tsinghua University is a step of global significance to change that. Food touches all of us, everywhere, so we are experimenting in China with Walmart and Tsinghua given the size and scale of food consumption in this country,” said Bridget van Kralingen, senior vice president, Industry Platforms, IBM, said in the press release.
Current strategies for tracking supply chains consist of paper tracking or manual inspection, which leave room for error. With blockchain, as the food products make their way through each "link" in the supply chain, the transaction information is agreed on and then permanently recorded. The fact that the information cannot be changed leaves less room for any inaccuracies in product information, which will allow for retailers to better manage the food products that they house on their shelves later on down the supply chain.
“Tsinghua University is also committed to in-depth research of food safety—one of the most important areas that the world is focusing on. We believe the work with IBM and Walmart can serve as a global model for others to follow and replicate,” Dr. Yeuting said.
Advertisement
Related to this article
Food expert Lynette Johnston, PhD, provides some context around the ongoing outbreak, discusses prevention, and compares 2026 food recalls with previous years.
Here's the latest on the cyclosporiasis and jalapeño-linked Salmonella case numbers, plus an update on the resolved avocado inspection halt. Also included is information on a bacterial infection linked to shellfish, and a look at efforts affecting cyclosporiasis research.
Kofinas Mediterranean olive oil was recalled over an unapproved garlic flavoring ingredient, and a new update on Lundberg Family Farms' jasmine rice recall tied to foreign material contamination.
Vibrio species are bacteria that live in saltwater environments. When ingested orally or through contact with open wounds, some species can cause severe life-threatening infections, particularly in those with high-risk conditions, such as liver disease. Here is a review of Vibrio vulnificus and the recommended antibiotic treatment.
The latest CDC numbers show a 5.37% increase of measles cases from week-to-week. In Pennsylvania, the fourth measles-related death was reported in 2026. Additionally, the CDC has made a change in the way it will report deaths.
A "Clinician Outreach" from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in April anticipated an increase in rabies exposures, and the striking surge in case reports this summer prompted a recent health advisory alert from the federal agency.
Reported cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been on the rise for the past decade, and identifying Legionella bacteria requires specialized testing in the microbiology lab. Here is a clinical overview of Legionella bacteria, including required testing, treatment, and reporting to public health officials.