blockchain-powered traceability in food supply chains: enhancing trust, transparency, and real-time monitoring

The increasing prevalence of counterfeit products and food quality scandals has emphasized the urgent need for robust quality management and real-time transparency in the food supply chain. this study aims to design and evaluate a blockchain-based product traceability system specifically tailored for highly perishable meat products. the proposed system addresses critical challenges such as delayed contamination detection, lack of data transparency, and the inefficiencies arising from disconnected stakeholders. employing a design science research methodology, the solution leverages smart contracts on a decentralized blockchain platform to enable automated, tamper-proof data tracking across the supply chain. key performance metrics—transparency, reliability, data accuracy, response speed, and cost-effectiveness—were used to evaluate the system with input from domain experts. results indicate that the blockchain-based system significantly enhances the traceability of meat products, improves stakeholder trust, and accelerates response times in contamination scenarios. furthermore, the immutable and distributed nature of the system ensures secure and accurate access to critical product information in real time. by demonstrating the feasibility and effectiveness of blockchain in managing food traceability, this research contributes a scalable and secure technological framework that can help transform food supply chain operations and safeguard public health.