New RFID Tagging Solution for Fresh Food Tagging Helps Address Food Waste

bags of fresh bread on a store shelf — Image courtesy of Avery Dennison

Avery Dennison has announced the launch of its AD IdentiFresh inlay series, advancing the use of radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology in fresh food categories including bakery, meat, deli, and produce. The proprietary set of inlays is part of Avery Dennison’s Optica Food Solutions, providing real-time fresh food inventory visibility to help retailers and suppliers improve operational efficiency, enhance freshness, and reduce waste.

Featured in the AD IdentiFresh series, Avery Dennison’s proprietary antenna design and inlay construction improve read performance on densely stacked items, particularly within high-moisture cold environments like meat cases.

The AD IdentiFresh series leverages Impinj’s M800 series endpoint integrated circuits (ICs) and, when combined with the latest Gen2X enhancement, further improves readability and speed. The compact inlay form factor is designed to fit easily within existing label formats, enabling integration with current workflows and labeling equipment, thereby minimizing operational disruption. The AD IdentiFresh inlay series enables both in-store and supplier tagging of fresh food items, offering flexibility and high-volume scalability.

Addressing the Challenge of Food Waste

The uptake of RFID tagging solutions helps address the persistent industry challenge of food waste.

New research commissioned by Avery Dennison revealed how decision makers are challenged at various supply chain points, especially across perishables. When 3,500 global food retailers and supply chain leaders were asked to identify the three most difficult categories for waste, 50 percent pointed to meat, 45 percent said produce, and 28 percent said baked goods. More than half (51 percent) said that inventory management and overstocking contribute significantly to food waste within their operations. Independent modeling also warned that the economic cost of food waste across the global supply chain could reach $540 billion by 2026, up from $526 billion in 2025.

Avery Dennison: www.averydennison.com

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The Food Safety Magazine editorial team comprises Bailee Henderson, Director of Content Strategy and news editor ✉, and Adrienne Blume, M.A., Director of Editorial and Industry Engagement.