The shock of finding a strange, flat object on your meat can feel like a violation. You expect bones, gristle, maybe a bit of fat – not a piece of technology pressed against your dinner. Yet RFID tags are increasingly used in the food industry to trace every step from slaughterhouse to supermarket shelf. They’re meant to protect you: verifying origin, monitoring temperature, speeding recalls, fighting fraud. But that reassurance can vanish the moment one slips past the packaging and onto your plate.

In that moment, you’re not thinking about supply-chain optimization; you’re thinking, “Did I almost eat this?” The right response is to stop eating, photograph everything, and keep the tag and packaging. Contact the store and the producer so they can investigate, and seek medical advice if you may have swallowed anything. Food safety isn’t just a system; it’s the basic trust that what you serve your family won’t frighten you first.