After a transformative year during which SmartLabel integrated significant capabilities to better connect consumers with the transparent, up-to-date information they’re looking for, the program is proud to be named one of Fast Company’s 2024 Innovation by Design Awards honorees for its consumer recall alerts in two categories — general excellence and impact.

Fast Company received more than 2,000 submissions and SmartLabel’s recognition has it ranked among household names like Nike, Bose and Kohler.

Consumer Recall Alerts 

The recognized design for SmartLabel’s Consumer Recall Alerts underscores the importance of consumers having trustworthy access to recall information as it becomes available — because it’s not just a food safety issue but a food safety one, too, and something we know consumers want. We know at least seven in 10 consumers (70%) are worried about missing recall notices and more than half (57%) believe recalls should be communicated by the brand owner.

Enter SmartLabel: participating brand owners can leverage SmartLabel to inform consumers in near real time that a product has been recalled. As illustrated below, after scanning the SmartLabel QR code on a product, the consumer can be informed that the product has been recalled by a recall banner at the top of the SmartLabel landing page. (The product image in the header can be clicked to provide an enlarged view of the packaging to aid the consumer in determining if the product in hand is the same).

Clicking on the Recall Alert Banner at the top opens a second window that allows the consumer to access pertinent and granular information about the product recall, including why the product is being recalled, which products are affected, relevant code date and manufacturing information for affected products and contact information for the recalling firm where consumers can learn more. If an edit to the recall notice is required, the brand owner can simply make a single change in SmartLabel and all outlets that leverage the SmartLabel API (application programming interface) will also be updated in near real time.

SmartLabel’s evolution as the industry led standard for consumer transparency will continue as the platform continues to expand and adapt to consumer needs. Read more about how recall alerts work here.