**3.6 Traceability**

Traceability is a characteristic of food packaging applicable in monitoring and assuring unchangeable quality of food products from processing operation through distribution channels to when the products are on the consumers' table. The literature defines food traceability as the system that trace the flow of food products through supply chain whose activity covers production, processing and distribution [29]. It facilitates the tracking of products at any stage of the supply chain. The tracking enables producers to detect defective and unsafe products for easier withdrawal from the market. In addition to tracking products, Golan et al. [30] mentioned other objectives of traceability to include improvement in supply management and differentiating and marketing of food products with subtle or undetectable quality attributes. The tracking is through technology that inscribes unique readable codes on package labels of products. Some of these technologies according to the report of Daoud and Trigui [31] include Barcodes, Radio Frequency Identification, Wireless sensor networks, Quick Response; who further cited the use of quick response code, in particular, a traceability label to access information of food products using smart phone. Traceability provides up-to-date information or histories of all batches products from starting materials to complete final products. Hence, while to the producers it enables the monitoring, identifying and withdrawal of defective and unsafe food products, it assists consumers to ascertain the originality and nature of the products. Amongst consumers that are acquainted with traceability functions, it determines their choices and disposition toward information to purchase products [32]. It indeed aids consumers in making decision on the products to purchase through provision of accurate documentation, and hence, heightens the marketability and possible economic benefits [33]. Its contributions to the advancement of food packaging system are attested to by the literature. Daoud and Trigui [31] mentioned its status in the recently developed innovative packaging like smart packaging and intelligent packaging; designed, according to the literature to maintain, improve and monitor food quality and safety [34].
