A hand-held data collector having a sensor, for example, a temperature sensor, a reader, for example, a bar code scanner, a user I/O device, a data processor in electrical communication with the sensor, the reader and the user I/O device and a transceiver unit in electrical communication with the data processor. The data processor receiving information from the sensor and the reader. The data collector transmits the read and sensed information over a communication link to a computer where the data is analyzed and stored. In a food processing facility, the above monitoring and tracking system may be used to monitor, track, analyze and provide a real time reporting of temperatures and locations of specific food items in inventory. Each time the food location is changed, a new expiration date for the food item is automatically calculated and applied to a new food rotation label. Further, the history of food items from a manufacturer's food lot number can be quickly reported.