By now you should’ve learned how the rule applies to your organization, created your traceability plan, and identified your method for capturing, storing, and sharing KDEs. Now it’s time to act and DO all the work you set out to do.
Maintaining quality can be challenging for discount retailers that have limited in-house expertise in selling produce, particularly at the distribution center and store levels. This is important because consumer surveys show that shoppers consider price, appearance, and quality when purchasing fresh produce.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the next frontier in our work to ensure that consumers are getting the highest quality fresh products in grocery stores and restaurants. But AI, and specifically the machine learning (ML) trained on big data, will increasingly play an important role in food quality management.
Andy Kennedy of New Era Partners, and co-writer of FSMA Rule 204, designed a timeline outlining the path to compliance. He recommends first LEARNING about FSMA 204 before you act and implement any new processes or systems, then PLANNING your path to compliance.
Organizations covered by FDA’s Food Traceability Rule often ask two questions: How much will it cost us to comply with the rule? And: Is it worth the risk to not comply?
With just over two years until the FDA Food Traceability Rule enforcement date, it’s crucial to start preparing now. Andy Kennedy, Principal Traceability Advisor at New Era Partners and co-writer of FSMA 204, designed a timeline outlining the path to compliance. Andy recommends learning about the rule before you act and implement any new processes or systems.
There are misconceptions about how to comply with FSMA 204—FDA’s Final Food Traceability Rule—that make the rule appear more complicated than it actually is. We want to ease your concerns about four of the most common myths that have surfaced in recent months and provide facts and resources to consider as you look towards the January 20, 2026 compliance deadline.
Download our free Traceability Plan requirements and Sample Plan infographic to help your organization create your own Traceability Plan
Knowing what solution capabilities to look for when evaluating potential solution partners can be daunting. iFoodDS has been working to confidently understand what compliance with FSMA 204 looks like and help the entire supply chain capture, maintain, and share required KDEs across all CTEs. Use our checklist to help ensure your solution partner meets all your requirements
iFoodDS is committed to helping those who must comply with the FSMA 204 – also known as the Final Food Traceability Rule – understand what’s asked of them and what resources are available to help. What follows are some of those questions with links to resources that we hope will help smooth the way forward.
