2023: A Year in Review
As we look back on 2023, these were some of the year’s most widely discussed topics of the year.
January 9, 2024
FSMA 204: FDA’s Food Traceability Rule
FSMA 204, FDA’s Food Traceability Rule, was finalized and shared in November of 2022, giving the fresh food supply chain more than three years to comply. This past year, industry associations, solution providers, and other industry partners put out a myriad of webinars, podcasts, videos, articles, and other content on the topic to educate and guide the supply chain through what it means to be compliant by the January 20, 2026 compliance date.
We’ve pulled together a few helpful resources from this past year to help your organization prepare.
Resources:
FSMA Final Rule on Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods, FDA FSMA 204 Resources
Visit FDA’s website to access the Food Traceability List (FTL), learn the CTE and KDE recordkeeping requirements, FAQs, and more.
FSMA Rule 204 Hub, Created by iFoodDS, Traceability Solution Provider
Visit iFoodDS’ FSMA Rule 204 for a library of content focused on FSMA 204 and how it applies to your organization. If you’re at the point of looking for a new solution provider, we recommend A Checklist for Choosing the Right FSMA 204 Traceability Partner. We also recommend checking out the Timeline for Preparing for the FDA Food Traceability Rule article series, which can also be found in the Hub.
FSMA 204 Insights, Created by New Era Partners, FSMA 204 Consulting Firm
Check out New Era Partners’ Insights for a library of insightful content on FDA’s Food Traceability Rule. We highly recommend the Timeline for Preparing for the FDA Food Traceability Rule, created by co-writer of FSMA 204, Andy Kennedy
FMI and GS1 FSMA 204 Webinar Series, Co-hosted by FMI and GS1
Learn the foundational concepts of FSMA Rule 204, best practices to support recordkeeping, the supply chain visibility benefits from meeting regulatory requirements, and more!
FDA Webinar on the Food Traceability Rule, Hosted by FDA
Soon after the final rule was announced, the FDA provided an overview of the final rule, including the foods and entities covered by the rule, explained the exemptions from the rule, and discussed the recordkeeping requirements of the rule.
Technology and Innovation
New regulatory requirements and consumer expectations drive the need to do things more efficiently and provide more transparency to supply chain partners and consumers. This is hard to do without utilizing technology to find innovative ways to get the job done.
Resources:
FDA’s Food Traceability Rule: Going Beyond Regulatory Compliance with Ambient IoT, Food Safety Magazine
The Internet of Things has been widely discussed this past year. It’s still new, but the efficiencies, real-time visibility, and valuable data that can be derived from its capabilities can help organizations go beyond regulatory compliance. Watch this webinar by Food Safety Magazine to learn more about ambient IoT.
Going Beyond FSMA 204 Compliance by Harnessing the Power of Data and Technology, written by iFoodDS
Consider that the data records required by FSMA 204 will be the backbone of a global data network. You will be tapping into the power of technology to capture data efficiently and consistently you may be using tools like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to explore the full value of this connected traceability and food safety data.
Predictive Analytics in the Food Supply Chain, written by iFoodDS
Learn how our engineers used ML and AI in the lab to use quality data to predict the quality of a product before it arrives, vs. only reporting on historical performance.
2024 Technology Outlook, Food Technology Magazine
Food Technology Magazine examines AI-powered technology to support the areas of supply chain management and logistics, food safety, traceability and transparency, and product development. This report also discusses traceability technologies, which can be critical to successful compliance with FSMA 204, especially for enterprise organizations.
Food Safety Magazine’s Top Food Safety Innovations of 2023, Food Safety Magazine
Read to learn about a tray that alerts when food is contaminated, new sensor technology that detects bacteria in milk in real time, and more in Food Safety Magazine’s review of the top food safety innovation trends of 2023.
Sustainability
Consumers have a strong preference for sustainable brands and products now more than ever. Retailers are reacting by looking for more sustainable ways to do business, such as using AI-powered solutions to reduce waste, and using more sustainable packaging.
Resources:
AI Plays a Role in Food Waste Solutions, Supermarket Perimeter
The U.S. wastes an estimated 40% of its food, much of it simply because it didn’t get sold before it perished. While some waste is inevitable, learn more about how it’s possible to reduce the amount of scrap using AI-powered solutions.
Sustainability Insights 2023, The Packer
According to this report from The Packer, more than 75% of consumers consider sustainability when making purchase decisions. Read the full report to learn more about the value consumers place on sustainability.
Food Safety, Hygiene Concerns Lessen as Consumers Shift Toward Sustainable Packaging, Food Industry Executive, McKinsey
In this study from McKinsey, 51% of global participants said the environmental impact of food packaging was important to them. Read the full study to learn more about how a growing consumer awareness is playing a big role in the importance of sustainability.
Trend Watch 2023: Sustainability, NielsenIQ
According to this report, consumers are looking to brands to take the lead on creating sustainable change. Read the full report to learn more about the top 7 trends in sustainability for 2023.
Private Labels
Many consumers have a strong preference for private labels and would switch to private label brands depending on value, price, transparency, and convenience.
Resources:
More Than Half of Shoppers Plan to Buy More Private Brands in The Future, Grocery Dive
Ninety percent of participants in a recent FMI survey said they would be somewhat or very likely to continue buying store brands if inflation or grocery prices come down. Read the full article to learn about consumer preference for private labels.
How to Continuously Improve the Value of your Private Label Brand, written by iFoodDS
Private label brands have experienced a surge in popularity with consumers, particularly since the increase in inflation. As a retailer, learn more about the ways in which your private label brands can become more profitable and valuable to your business.
Technology and Traceability in Seafood
While traceability was certainly a trending topic this year with the late 2022 announcement of FSMA 204, traceability in seafood has its own set of unique challenges.
Resources:
This is the High-Tech Future of Fishing, Environmental Defense Fund
Most fisheries don’t monitor what they catch, and those that do typically collect data using paper forms, which then has to be transcribed and prepared for analysis. The process can take months, and is quite mistake-prone. Learn more about “smart boats” and how they’re able to move data through satellites and cellular networks, generating an unprecedented new level of information about fisheries and the oceans — in real time.
Grocery Retailers Prioritize Seafood Sustainability and Traceability, Supermarket Perimeter
Consumers value sustainable seafood sourced from somewhere they can trust. Read this article to learn how ensuring sustainable and traceable seafood supply chain is a continuous work in progress, and some grocery chains are leading the way in their initiatives.
The Benefits of Navigating the Complex Waters of Seafood Traceability, written by iFoodDS
Seafood is one of the most highly traded food commodities in the world. It might pass through several countries and a dozen different companies before reaching a dinner plate. This makes meeting the requirements of FSMA 204 particularly complex for seafood producers.
Learn more about how source-to-table food traceability can address some of the challenges that have long been faced by this massive, global industry.