You can find bar codes printed in our food products when you look for them on the side of the packaging especially the ones made in the United States. You can find them at the back side of a product. One of its functions is to make it easier for store checkers to easily add up the cost of your total grocery bill but they are not only placed there for that purpose. Let us discuss their several important functions aside from the one mentioned before.

Another common name for a bar code is UPC code, which stand for Universal Product Code. The UCC or the Uniform Code Council is the organization that originated it. At the bottom of these codes you can find several numbers while the bar is labeled in a normal black bar on a white background print. The number portion provides helpful information for vendors and customers but some parts of the code can only be read with a specific machine or scanner.

A 12-digit code is composed in a standard UPC code containing a manufacturer's identification number. From left to right, the first six digits will specify who manufactured the product while the remaining next five digits of the code indicate the actual product. The end result is known as the check digit and it should always be the answer to a mathematical formula that uses all of the previous numbers in the code. A UPC coordinator is required to avoid using the same code on more than one product and retire these codes as these products are removed from shelves.

Sodas, pastas, tomato sauces and the millions of other products we buy usually have number codes 0,1,6,7 and 8 which represent most of the products in a grocery store that are manufactured by companies such as Kraft, Coca-Cola, Kellogg's or any other manufacturer. On the other hand, items sold by weight, such as meat and vegetables or fruit feature a 2. A number 3 is for different for medicine and other pharmaceutical items the numbers 4, 5, or 9 are placed on coupons.

Bar codes are not the only ones that are printed on the packaging of different food products. Manufacturers include printing the batch number and expiration date on these products also. To do this, they use a special kind of printer, known as an ID coder or ID printer. There are many brands of coders that are available in the market, including Domino coders, VideoJet coders, Imaje coders and many more. This is very important especially the expiration dates since they help one determine if these products are safe for consumption or use. Food is vital for our daily lives and we need to be absolutely sure about their quality and freshness.

Special inks and make-up fluids are required in order for your ID coders or printers to function properly. It is recommended to use the best inks to avoid damaging to your machines. Manufacturers offer several inks or fluids and you can purchase them directly, but this is highly expensive. However, a product ID company will create Domino ink, Altima ink, Imaje ink and any other brand you need for much less money. These companies specialize in creating high quality generic versions of inks and fluids. They are much cheaper and effective from the ones sold from manufacturers without compromising their quality. These companies also sometimes sell parts and offer repair services for your id coder.