Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Barcode & Label Products
Can you use barcoding in the food service industry?
Can you use barcoding in the food service industry with fresh vegetables, meats, etc., and how would that work?
There are several ways in which barcoding can be used in the food service industry.
But the first question is, why would barcodes be used—to what purpose would they be necessary?
Think of barcode technology as data input, not unlike using a keyboard.
If there is a database to be built, maintained and queried, there could be an application where barcoding would be a useful tool.
The answers could be many:
· Inventory control at a distribution point where bulk material is received and broken down into smaller units
· Tracking deliveries to customers through a delivery system
· Identifying specific commodity sources and/or processing batches and/or expiration dates
…and if you are familiar with this industry, you could no doubt add many more examples.
As for how this would work, again the sky is the limit.
· Barcoded label on product packaging
· Barcoded label directly on some products such as fruits and vegetables
· Tags affixed directly to product tray or shrink wrap
Often such labels are demand printed on site using thermal or thermal transfer printers. I have also seen experimental technology where a barcode is laser-marked directly onto the skin of the fruit or vegetable, but this is not widely accepted as yet.
If barcodes are used just within a company’s internal systems, this is considered a “closed loop” application and the industry-wide rules about GS1 and UPC do not apply. Any barcode symbology can be used and any configuration of the barcode will work. But if the barcode will be scanned and used by others outside of the company, this is an “open loop” application and all the players must make sure they are in sync with each other. This could still be a proprietary system, or it might be best to adopt the global rules and use the GS1 protocols.
I hope this at least begins to address your questions, but if not, I’m happy to continue a dialog.
John Nachtrieb
What is a Bookland EAN?
A Bookland EAN is a thirteen digit, strictly numeric barcode used for the publishing industry. It is created from the ISBN number assigned to a particular title.
What is the smallest/largest GTIN-12 (UPC) I can have?
The smallest GTIN-12 you can have is 80% magnification. It requires a total area of 1.175" x 0.816". The largest UPC code is 200% magnification, which requires a total area of 2.938" x 2.04". This area includes the margins needed for quiet zones.
What is a UPC (GTIN-12)?
A UPC is the generic term for a barcode which is used for most point-of-sale purposes. Previously known as "Universal Product Code"- is know identified as GTIN-12, Global Trade Item Number. It is a twelve digit (strictly numeric) barcode consisting of a company prefix- a six to eight digit number assigned by GS1, a item number- unique for each product and level of packaging, and a single check digit.
