|Articles|December 30, 2003

First U.S. Case of Mad Cow Disease Reinforces Importance of Accurately Tracing Food Origins

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- In the wake of the first U.S. case of mad cow disease, the ability to trace contaminated products through the food chain is ever so important. Global Technology Resources (GTR) introduced recently a revolutionary new system designed to detect, track and manage food safety threats across the supply chain. Combining patented Web- based global positioning system (GPS) technology with radio frequency identification (RFID), GTR's system is the first solution of its kind to provide early detection of disease, foodborne pathogens and contamination. It offers real-time information and tracking of food assets globally, for immediate identification and response to an existing problem. GTR's system also helps companies meet the requirements of the Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 and the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) Act.

"To protect consumers' health, it is vitally important to know where particular shipments of meats, vegetables and other products originated and where they've been," said Paul Cheek, president of Global Technology Resources. "Our system provides a key line of defense in the event of a crisis. If contamination does occur, whether it is intentional or unintentional, we can pinpoint where contaminants entered the supply chain and isolate the problem."

The GTR system tracks food from the point of origin throughout the production and distribution channel, ending with the consumer's table. The system catalogs products at various points along the supply chain, including farm, ranch, processing plants, transport vehicles, storage facilities, supermarkets and restaurants. If an incident of contamination is reported in the supply chain, information on the origin and destination of dangerous product is automatically located.

Global Technology Resources (GTR) is a U.S.-based spatial technology company that specializes in the development and implementation of risk mitigation technology for global commercial business and government use. The company and its subsidiaries develop technology for use in the bioterrorism, food safety, and disease detection mitigation areas.

Source: Global Technology Resources


Related to this article

Water  (Adobe Stock 456102510 by stockphoto-graf)
Understanding current water quality is a starting point for ST108 implementation. John Kimsey, vice president of processing optimization and customer success for STERISS, spoke about his HSPA presentation on assessing readiness, distinguishing system qualification from routine testing, and understanding where water samples should be collected.
Image of Pathogens flying   (Adobe Stock weerasak)
Behind every landmark in infection prevention, from antimicrobial stewardship guidelines to the COVID-19 town halls that reached flight attendants and teachers, is a generation of physician-scientists who led SHEA through crises, organizational change, and scientific breakthroughs. Infection Control Today traces 30 years of SHEA presidents and the lasting mark they left on the field.
AORN26 New Orleans 2026  (Adobe Stock)
Missing instruments and processing delays can strain OR–SPD relationships. At AORN 2026, John Kimsey, vice president of processing optimization and customer success for STERIS, discusses understanding root causes, exploring off-site reprocessing for ambulatory surgical centers, and using hands-on simulation to help surgical teams see sterile processing from a different perspective.