In today’s complex food supply chain, ensuring product safety, compliance, and transparency is more than a regulatory necessity—it’s a public health priority. Among the many technologies that help maintain quality control, accurate barcode check plays a powerful role.
Each stakeholder in the supply chain can get detailed information by effectively cross-validating product information against brand-owner uploaded data on millions of product SKUs. With this, they ensure the right product reaches the right consumer at the right time.
What is a Barcode Check?
The global marketplace is becoming increasingly complex and advanced, with different industries switching to barcodes for product identification. One of the main reasons that industries are embracing barcode technology is to address the problem of counterfeit/adulterated/spurious products in the market. This is where barcode check comes as a useful option for everyone.
A barcode check is the process of verifying that a barcode on a food product is accurate, scannable, and contains the correct data. This verification ensures the barcode meets regulatory standards and functions properly across the supply chain.
Types of Barcode Checks:
- Manual Checks: Visual inspections and spot-scanning by personnel.
- Automated Checks: Integration of scanners, software, and vision systems that validate barcodes in real time on the packaging line.
Common Technologies Used:
- Smart Consumer Application – Smart Consumer is an advanced application that allows consumers and other relevant stakeholders access to product data instantly through their smartphones. The application is developed by GS1 India and empowers everyone with brand-owner-uploaded product data.
- GTIN Validation – GTIN Validation is a service provided by GS1 India to help retailers and other e-marketplace owners verify products provided to them. They would be required to enter the product’s GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) on the portal. After that, the service portal will reflect all the information associated with that particular product’s GTINs. In case the application fails to provide information, this would mean the product is fake or counterfeit. Retailers/e-commerce marketplaces can even send GTINs in bulk to GS1 India via email.
How Barcode Checks Work in Food Packaging
Verifying barcode details is very important for all business types. Below are some reasons to support this statement –
- Regulatory Compliance – Barcodes, especially GS1 barcodes, help organisations meet several regulatory requirements. Several global supply chains require businesses to supply goods with GS1 barcodes. For instance, USAID (United States Agency for International Development) and UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) have made it mandatory for suppliers to have GS1 barcode labels/ GS1 XML despatch advice format on their cases/pallets.
- Product Authenticity—GS1 barcodes on products make it easier for regulators, consumers, retailers, wholesalers, etc., to verify product authenticity easily and hassle-free. Consumers can make informed purchase decisions and stay safe from counterfeit and fake products.
- Enhanced Consumer Experience – With applications like Smart Consumer, end-users can scan barcodes using their smartphones to instantly view detailed product information such as manufacturer name, ingredients, usage instructions, certifications, and more. This transparency empowers customers, especially those with allergies, dietary restrictions, or specific preferences, to make safe and conscious choices.
- Brand Protection – Barcode verification helps brand owners safeguard their products and reputation. By ensuring only genuine products with validated barcodes reach the shelves, companies can protect against brand dilution caused by counterfeits. This is particularly important in the food sector, where adulterated products can cause serious health hazards and result in legal liabilities.
Conclusion
Barcode checks in food packaging are more than a logistical formality—they are a key part of ensuring food safety, regulatory compliance, and product authenticity. With smart tools like GTIN Validation and Smart Consumer, the ecosystem is evolving towards greater transparency and accountability. As the global food supply chain becomes more intricate, embracing barcode verification is not just good practice—it’s a necessity.
