Traceability is becoming a method of providing safer food supplies and of connecting producers and consumers. Recent diseases such as bovine spongiform encephalitis (BSE) and the questions concerning genetically modified organism (GMO) mean systems that enable control of each link in the food chain have become particularly relevant. Furthermore, although EU law no. 178 came into effect on the 1st January 2005, at the time of writing the regulatory situation is very confused. The aim of this paper is to analyze legal and regulatory aspects of food traceability, and to provide a general framework for the identification of fundamental mainstays and functionalities in an effective traceability system. Possible technical resources were clarified by analyzing assessment criteria obtained from studies of alphanumerical codes, bar codes, and radio frequency identification (RFID). Finally, the paper presents the traceability system used by Parmigiano Reggiano (the famous Italian cheese) which was developed using the proposed general framework. Based on an integration of alphanumerical codes and RFID technology, the system is working well with very good results for both cheese producers and consumers. Some interesting observations concerning development trends and traceability system costs close the paper. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.