Barilla Embraces the Connected Food Movement

The Italian pasta maker is using the Internet of Things and analytics to provide traceability in the supply chain and transparency to consumers.

The barcode on the limited edition Farfalle Pasta traces ingredients back through the supply chain.
The barcode on the limited edition Farfalle Pasta traces ingredients back through the supply chain.

The terms “field to fork” or “farm to table” are often used to describe the movement to track all stages of food production: from local food harvesting to storage, processing, packaging, and ultimately, consumption. Now, with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), there’s an even greater emphasis on food quality and safety.

Leave it to a company established in 1877 to be on the forefront of this food safety movement, leveraging the latest technology trend—the Internet of Things (IoT).

Barilla Group, the Italian company known for its Barilla brand pastas and sauces and which has 30 global production sites, recently created a prototype of a “digital passport” that takes the consumer on a journey from where the food was grown to how it was processed and ultimately arrived on the store shelf.

In partnership with Cisco, Italian consulting company Penelope S.p.A, and NTT Data, a global IT services provider, Barilla implemented a technology platform called Safety for Food (S4F), powered by ValueGo software.

The technology enables a consumer to use a smartphone to scan a QR code on the back of the limited edition farfalle pasta box or tomato and basil sauce jar, which brings them to a website that tells the story of the specific production batch. Details are provided about the origin of the durum wheat varieties and background on the harvest and milling, moving them through the supply chain to Barilla’s plant in Parma, Italy, and ultimately the delivery to the point of sale. In this pilot project, the retail outlet was the Coop Supermarket at the Future Food District Expo, which took place as part of Expo 2015 from May to October 2015 in Milan, Italy.

Dairy Food & Beverage Innovations Report
Discover cutting-edge packaging and processing solutions in the inaugural Packaging World/ProFood World Innovations Report. From high-speed filling machines to mono-material lids, see how the latest advancements from PACK EXPO International 2024 are driving safety, sustainability, and extended shelf life—shaping the future of dairy food and beverage packaging.
Access Now
Dairy Food & Beverage Innovations Report
Proteins Innovations Report
Discover cutting-edge protein packaging innovations from PACK EXPO International 2024! Our editorial team spotlights hygienic equipment and materials designed for the demanding protein sector. From IP66-rated washdown systems and all-servo chub packaging to advanced auto-bagging technology and compostable trays replacing EPS, this report reveals how manufacturers are addressing clean, safe design while improving efficiency.
Take Me There
Proteins Innovations Report