Here is a snapshot of some important quality issues that are happening just this week:

  • A second multi-state Salmonella outbreak involving fresh vegetables and products containing them such as salsas and salads
  • A recall of over 100 pounds of ready-to-eat smoked andouille sausage
  • Recall of imported Republic of Korean oysters due to potential norovirus contamination
  • FDA recall of a Class 1 medical device
  • Seafood stuffing sold at Aldi stores due to an undeclared soy ingredient

Recalls in May 2025

These are a few of the 28 recalls issued by the FDA just this month.

What does this have to do with barcodes and the importance of barcode quality?  Two reasons come to mind:

  • Barcodes can track specific products from specific suppliers to specific consumer outlets (grocery stores and restaurants in these cases) making recalls much more focused
  • Barcodes make recalls faster and more efficient

This is every bit as important as the job that barcodes do in getting the product through the supply chain and to the user—but only if the barcodes work right.

Barcodes Manage Risk

Even when barcodes do work right, substantial damage is done:

  • A lawsuit representing over 50 Salmonella-poisoned victims, against a San Diego County restaurant
  • Listeria-contaminated deli meat put 60 people into the hospital and killed 10 people across 19 states.

…not to mention the liability of permanent damage or wrongful death.

Barcodes are an important risk management tool. When bad things happen, a barcode can limit the amount of damage by a mislabeled or contaminated food product, a malfunctioning medical device, a shock-hazard electrical appliance, a swallow-hazard child’s toy, a defective car tire that can suddenly deflate…the list goes on.

Manage Barcode Risk

The barcode is an important risk-management tool.  That risk extends risk to the barcode itself. If a barcode doesn’t work right, it cannot minimize the inconvenience, suffering, injury, and death caused by a contaminated or defective product.

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3db Barcode Testimonial

Our company (an advanced software company) recently worked with Barcode Test to source a barcode verifier.  Not long ago, we were awarded a contract requiring products to be marked with IUIDs in accordance with MIL-STD-130.  For that standard, marking labels must pass a verification test that evaluates many variables (contrast, size, clarity, syntax, modularity, and more).  After a thorough search, we reduced our options to a select few.

In our search for a verifier, the Axicon line caught our attention.  Barcode Test is our regional reseller for this product.   From the beginning, they were very prompt with their responses.  We ended up having a quick call with John Nachtrieb to go over our needs.  John was extremely easy to work with and provided a lot of great information.  He was very knowledgeable on the matter and was quick to offer up a demo unit (free of charge).

Upon receiving the demo verifier and testing it, a few questions arose.  John joined a call with us and answered all our questions.  Ultimately, the Axicon verifier wasn’t the best fit for us, so we shipped the demo back.  John was completely understanding.  A few weeks later, Barcode Test reached back out with another possible verifier for us to try.  While they didn’t sell that brand, they just wanted to help us find the best option that met our needs. They even offered to send us the unit that they have in-house to see if it worked to our liking. 

Barcode Test is truly a great company to work with.  Their service and willingness to help the customer are far beyond what you typically get from other companies.  They are experts in barcode quality assurance and seem willing to help in any way they can (even if that means not getting a sale and recommending another option that better fits the customer’s needs).  If anyone is in the market for barcode verification/scanning services or products, I would highly recommend giving Barcode Test a call.

Regards,

Production Manager