Traceability

Ahead of the Curve in the Race for Food Safety Compliance

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 19:04:41 GMT

While the 2028 enforcement deadline looms for the food traceability final rule under the Food Safety Modernization Act Section 204, representatives from Church Brothers Farms, Classic Yam and The Nunes Co. sat down with The Packer to share their companies’ individual journeys toward digital traceability.

Early Lessons From the Frontlines

Traceability has been a standard at Church Brothers Farms since 2016. It was an early adopter of the Produce Traceability Initiative label, says Arlin Valenzuela-Reyes, food safety quality director of recall, customer response and document control with the Salinas, Calif.-based fresh vegetable grower and processor.

“We were a few of the initial companies that implemented that since the initiative came out,” she says.

Valenzuela-Reyes says Church Brothers’ work in PTI has set the company up well for FSMA 204 implementation.

“We have a very organized system as far as inventory and block ID creation, how we enter that into our system and how it follows the supply chain from planting all the way to shipping,” she says.

Church Brothers shares data based on customer requirements. For some, it’s electronic data sharing, but for others it’s sending traceability data through the bills of lading. Valenzuela-Reyes says this includes block ID for field direct commodities and run numbers for processed items that run through the company’s facility.

“We created a page in our company website where our customers can reach out directly to us in case of any regulatory inquiry or internal inquiry regarding the lot code source or the lot code of the item that they are requesting,” she says.

She says one surprising part of adding PTI labels has been the cost of labor. This included buying the equipment, the labels, test labels to find the best option that works with the company’s cartons and RPCs. Valenzuela-Reyes also says the company customizes the information based on the customer, as they have different requirements.

“We basically do what our customer wants, but it definitely adds that complexity to our system,” she says. “The main wish is for all of our customers to have the same requirement as a standardized traceability request.”

Another challenge, says Valenzuela-Reyes, is how the company handles entering the traceability information from purchases from a broker to fill either something that Church Brothers is a little short in or doesn’t grow. This challenge is amplified when sourcing from outside suppliers who may be somewhat behind technologically or track information differently than Church Brothers.

“How are you going to enter that information into your system, and then how are you going to continue to pass it on to the next end user?” she says.

Valenzuela-Reyes stresses that produce industry businesses need to be thinking ahead to prepare for FSMA 204 compliance. Even for those businesses already on the traceability journey, now is the time to check to make sure systems work as they should.

“You might think that you have everything to the dot, but as you dig deeper, and as you double-, triple-check your systems, there’s always going to be something,” she says. “Waiting till the last minute, it’s going to be chaotic.”

Why Classic Yam Isn’t Waiting for 2028

Dodie Gauger never expected to be working in food safety. After starting at the front desk of grower-packer-shipper Classic Yam in Livingston, Calif., she transitioned to sales and then began working in food safety. She says it’s a challenge to wear two very different hats for the company and keep up with meeting the ever-changing food safety requirements of retailers.

Gauger says her and Classic Yam’s journey into traceability started with PTI. As she read through the goals and milestones, she realized it was a lot to undertake and sought help.

“That’s why we chose to go to a company and say, ‘Look, these are their goals. This is what they want. We don’t want to stretch it out. We want to do it now,’” she says.

Classic Yam focuses on key data elements, or KDEs. Some of Classic Yam’s customers require advanced ship notices sent through electronic data interchange.

Classic Yam uses iFoodDS Trace Exchange to generate pallet labels and send ASNs via EDI. Gauger says she still hand-logs everything with a columnar pad, but she sees the potential for digital reports to bridge the gap in the future.

“Just the thought of there being a report where I could go, ‘OK, this lot number, this date, right here, where did all this product go?’” she says. “Right now, I do all that by hand. I don’t have a spreadsheet on the computer. I can’t queue up a report like I need to, but I’m happy that it’s heading my way because it’ll take a little bit of that stress off.”

She says it’s difficult to keep up with when retailers add new requirements, especially for a company that grows a low-risk food item, as sweetpotatoes aren’t on the FSMA 204 list. However, she says she understands why retailers often have the same requirement for all fresh produce.

“I have to think about it from their point of view,” she says. “If you think of all the thousands and thousands of categories of different things that they have, I can’t see how they would be able to differentiate between all of these different categories.”

Gauger says it was important to begin the compliance journey early to be prepared.

“If I’m operating a year ahead of a deadline, I don’t care, because I’m not going to be there panicking at the end,” she says. “Because it will come, and it is necessary. People are out there that are not operating above board.”

With the final FSMA 204 enforcement deadline approaching in 2028, Gauger’s advice to the industry is simple: Don’t wait.

“Please don’t put it off, because they’re not always going to push those deadlines out the way they have,” she says. “It’s going to come. And the thing is, do it. Do something. Take it apart. Do something, do a little at a time [and] at least start moving toward the goal.”

And don’t be afraid to say you need help and seek assistance from companies that specialize in compliance, Gauger adds.

“You have to know your limits,” she says. “I’m not familiar enough with the traceability — all of the necessary aspects of that — so I’m not afraid to reach out. The company I work for is not afraid to reach out and say, ‘Hey, this is a little bit beyond us.’”

Gauger says ask neighbors, ask competitors and collaborate to move toward food safety compliance.

“You’ve got to work together, because it doesn’t matter if it’s low risk,” she says. “We’re all in this industry, and we’ve got to keep it moving forward.”

Nunes Co. Builds on PTI Foundation to Secure FSMA 204 Compliance

It was around the 2006 spinach recall when The Nunes Co., which grows and markets vegetables and leafy greens, first began to work on traceability.

“Spinach was pulled off every shelf, and there were millions and millions of dollars lost to the industry because we couldn’t identify to a level of detail the source of the outbreak,” says Johnny McGuire, director of information technology for The Nunes Co.

McGuire, who has been with the company for eight years, worked with a startup company that created the first field-pack labeling system aligned with PTI. He says Nunes took traceability seriously and began labeling cases in the field, which was a part of PTI’s seven milestones. While those last-mile steps were never picked up by buyers, growers helped create the standard and work toward continual improvement, he notes.

“For a company like Nunes, looking at the FSMA 204 key data elements and the critical tracking events and what we need to in terms of record keeping and interoperability with our trading partners and suppliers, a lot of that work that we did for the on the PTI is aligned with what the FDA [Food and Drug Administration] is bringing down in FSMA 204.”

McGuire says it’s important throughout the journey to traceability that the produce industry understands the why behind these requirements. It’s not just an additional checkmark or audit; it’s about public health.

“We’re all on board with the one goal of keeping consumers healthy and safe,” he says.

McGuire points to how Nunes’ work with PTI and how the FDA has aligned much of the FSMA standards to PTI requirements have positioned the company well for compliance in 2028.

“Case labeling, SSCC [serial shipping container code], pallet labeling, advanced ship notices through EDI, bill of lading — a lot of that groundwork is in place so with two more years to kind of get it done, we feel fairly confident that we can do that,” he says.

While the work isn’t finished in Nunes’ journey to traceability and FSMA 204, McGuire says the rallying call of the spinach outbreak really pushed Nunes and other fresh produce industry businesses to improve traceability.

“We’ve still got some work to do,” he says of the company. “We’ve got a few blind spots here and there. That kind of foundation that we set almost 15 years ago is serving us well now.”

And it’s only one part of Nunes’ food safety efforts.

“We layer on top of that world-class food safety professionals and systems and processes and people ... with that view of keeping that consumer happy, safe and enjoying our product,” McGuire says.

For companies still waiting to embark on the FSMA 204 compliance journey, McGuire says it’s important to get the data organized. This includes assigning GTINs [Global Trade Item Numbers], global location numbers and more; then, look at interoperability and EDI integrations to share that data with the next step in the supply chain.

“Do you have those integrations in place?” he says. “Because that’s going to be your key method of sharing that shipping key data elements.”

RedLine Solutions Launches FSMA 204 Guidance for Growers and Shippers

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 20:39:23 GMT

RedLine Solutions has released a new technical blog series designed to help produce operations navigate the specific requirements of the food traceability final rule under the Food Safety Modernization Act Section 204. Led by CEO Todd Baggett, the series focuses on the operational shifts required for growers, packers and distributors to meet the 2026-28 implementation deadlines.

RedLine says the series prioritizes practical field and packinghouse applications over regulatory theory, covering:

Implementation timelines — Why the 2028 deadline requires a transition to digital traceability discipline starting now (the “18- to 24-month” rule).
Bulk storage risks — Managing lot definition and product commingling in packing sheds to prevent overbroad recall scopes.
Field-pack precision — Establishing lot codes and harvest location data before the first bin is picked to ensure compliance at the source.

The guidance helps companies map mandatory critical tracking events and key data elements to existing workflows, ensuring that traceability lot codes are captured without slowing down production, RedLine says.

All technical guides are available at redlineforproduce.com/blog .

Strategic Alliance Between TraceGains and iFoodDS Extended

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 01:40:33 GMT

TraceGains and iFoodDS have extended the companies’ strategic alliance, which the organizations say strengthens integration between TraceGains Supplier Management and iFoodDS Trace Exchange.

The companies say this expanded alliance delivers seamless data integration that simplifies how suppliers share traceability data and how fresh produce companies identify, monitor and work with FSMA 204-ready trading partners.

“This alliance offers a differentiated alternative to legacy approaches to traceability and supplier management,” says Gary Iles, chief marketing officer of Esko and TraceGains. “Food and beverage companies can find proven, traceability-ready suppliers, monitor FSMA 204 compliance and manage supplier data and documents in one place, while suppliers gain a clear way to stand out in a competitive marketplace.”

TraceGains’ global network spans more than 100,000 supplier locations. iFoodDS’ Trace Exchange platform provides a flexible, scalable traceability solution that is purpose-built to support FSMA 204 requirements across complex supplier networks. The companies say that by integrating these platforms, the alliance makes traceability data sharing and compliance management a natural extension of existing supplier workflows.

TraceGains and iFoodDS say a cornerstone of the partnership is the ability for suppliers to earn the TraceApproved FSMA 204 traceability readiness badge through iFoodDS and showcase that credential directly on their supplier profiles within Gather, the TraceGains supplier marketplace. Fresh produce companies can then search for and engage suppliers that have demonstrated their readiness to comply with FSMA 204.

The integration also enables seamless data sharing between the platforms, including master product and location data as well as critical tracking event data. This eliminates duplicate effort for suppliers, reduces errors and supports integrated reporting within TraceGains Supplier Management.

“Many suppliers are already taking proactive steps toward FSMA 204 compliance by adopting iFoodDS’ flexible, cost-effective traceability software and completing our TraceApproved readiness program,” iFoodDS CEO Scott Mathews says. “Our expanded alliance with TraceGains streamlines supplier workflows and gives suppliers a powerful way to showcase their traceability capabilities to current and prospective customers.”

Keep Calm and Record on for Mango FSMA 204 Compliance

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 13:33:05 GMT

Traceability rules might be daunting, but they don’t have to be. So went the advice of one food safety expert to the mango industry

On Sept. 24, Sergio Nieto-Montenegro of Food Safety Consulting and Training Solutions, LLC, laid out the ABCs of abiding by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Traceability Rule, known as FSMA 204 , for the mango industry.

His main message was to not panic over the rule. Most members of the mango supply chain are already doing most, if not all, of the new rule’s requirements, he said. It’s just a matter of getting a plan together.

“Sometimes we get scared and feel that we have to fulfill every single requirement in the standard,” he acknowledged to his audience. Attendees came from at least a half dozen mango-growing countries and represented all points along the mango supply chain.

But then he listed out information mango growers have to supply according to the rule — details such as mango variety, date of harvest, quantity of harvest, orchard and field name and location, and who the mangoes go to after harvest — and asked: “all of this information, this is something you are already collecting, yes?”

The participants overwhelmingly answered yes.

“But then we hear ‘FSMA regulations’ and we panic,” Montenegro continued. “But it’s just about how we organize the information.”

The ABCs of FSMA 204 for mangoes

Montenegro overviewed the numerous acronyms of the FSMA 204 for the mango industry, focusing mostly on CTEs — critical tracking events. According to the rule, fresh produce CTEs are harvesting, cooling before initial packing, initial packing, shipping, receiving, and transformation (including repacking) of a fresh produce item.

Not everyone within the fresh mango supply chain will deal with all possible CTEs however, Montenegro explained. For example, the chilling CTE that might apply to other fresh produce doesn’t usually apply to the fresh mango supply chain.

However, given the complexity of the mango supply chain — with mangoes often coming from small suppliers in various countries, being repacked and changing hands many times via transportation middlemen and brokers — it can come with many, sometimes repeated, steps.

Repackaging, which counts as a transformation under FSMA 204, is one of those points of potential complexity for mangoes. They will receive a TLC, traceability lot code, upon initial packing. But each time the mangoes are repackaged, they are effectively a new product, thereby requiring a new TLC.

Montenegro gave the example of lots of mangoes that are initially processed and given a TLC, that are then sent to another warehouse that repacks them into size-specific pallets according to client desires. Those pallets of large mangoes from mixed original lots are new products requiring new TLCs.

He also offered an example of the many hands mangoes can pass through as an area of complexity for the industry.

“Imagine that I have mangoes coming from Michoacán,” he said. “They were packed in Michoacán and then went to McAllen. Then the person in McAllen sent them to a broker in Dallas. And then the broker in Dallas sends them to a broker in Minneapolis.”

Those brokers’ activities would represent both receiving and shipping CTEs, and each would be required to keep track of the relevant receiving and shipping KDEs (key data elements) such as product description, location information of where the mangoes had just been and where they will be going next, dates and so on.

“So you will have a bit more information here,” Montenegro said.

Don’t reinvent the record-keeping wheel

Compliance with the FSMA 204 comes down to organizing your (probably already existing) information, Montenegro advised his mango industry listeners. He noted the record-keeping requirements will vary depending on where a person or company falls in the supply chain.

Regardless, he recommended industry members not try to reinvent the wheel in preparation to comply with the rule, which takes effect July 20, 2028 . Instead, he recommended people start by taking stock of what records they already collect and compare it to the record-keeping needs of the new rule.

“Maybe, you already have everything, or maybe you’re only missing two little details,” he said. “Even if you’re missing two details, that doesn’t mean you have to transform your whole [record-keeping] system. You just need to make those two additions.”

He added that the process of adding to an existing record-keeping system doesn’t need to be complicated. He showed participants example record documents that fit different links in the mango supply chain offered by the National Mango Board.

“At the National Mango Board, we have plenty of tools at your service to help you create a plan in compliance with this rule,” Montenegro said.

How Welch’s New Data Partnership Expands Data Insights

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 18:22:41 GMT

Family-farm cooperative Welch’s has partnered with TELUS Agriculture and Consumer Goods, a provider of digital solutions and data insights to offer automated validation, custom rules management and real-time compliance monitoring throughout Welch’s supply chain by leveraging TELUS’ proprietary agricultural database and advanced analytics.

TELUS says a first-of-its-kind deployment through this collaboration will use crop insights from soil to harvest to provide data-driven decision-making.

“This partnership reflects a broader industry shift toward digitizing compliance and improving traceability at every stage of the food system,” says Amy Turner, senior communications manager with TELUS. “The tools we’re providing are designed to help any organization — like Welch’s — capture reliable data from the field and create a strong chain of custody across their supply network.

Turner says this effort underscores the changing landscape as consumers and retailers seek more information on traceability and where food comes from.

“Food companies today are facing growing expectations from retailers and consumers alike, not just to meet safety standards, but to demonstrate transparency in how food is grown and handled,” Turner says. “This partnership is an example of what it looks like when companies invest proactively in that future.”

Turner says the platform will help growers and supply chain stakeholders simplify record-keeping, reduce duplication and provide a clearer view of compliance status. It also enables food companies to use standardized digital records to support transparency, improve workflows and build trust, she adds.

“That kind of infrastructure can help any food company become more agile and audit-ready, especially in the face of evolving regulations,” Turner says. “It’s about creating the right foundation so companies can adapt and scale as their needs evolve. And the goal is the same across the board: to improve the quality, safety, and sustainability of food from grower to consumer.”

The companies say this decade-long arrangement will transform regulatory compliance management and supply chain transparency, which Turner says is worth noting.

“A 10-year partnership signals a deep level of alignment and commitment to evolving together over time,” she says. “It also underscores the growing importance of collaboration between agtech providers and food companies to address complex supply chain challenges — not just in the short term, but for the future of food.”

iFoodDS promotes Andrew Kennedy

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 17:43:48 GMT

iFoodDS, a provider of connected traceability, quality and food safety solutions for the fresh food supply chain, promoted Andrew Kennedy to chief traceability officer. The company said Kennedy will lead the product strategy for iFoodDS’ traceability product line while continuing to stress the importance of traceability across the food supply chain.

“iFoodDS’ success is rooted in its scalable and interoperable platform,” Kennedy said. “It is the foundation for connecting supply chains and is designed for stronger collaboration between trading partners. I look forward to working with our teams to provide more capabilities that provide deeper product and supply chain insights, resulting in increased supply chain resiliency.”

Kennedy has nearly two decades of experience leading large-scale food supply chain traceability initiatives. His experience includes co-leader of Tech-Enabled Traceability, a core element of FDA’s New Era of Smarter Food Safety initiative; contributor to FDA’s Final Food Traceability Rule (FSMA 204); interim director of IFT’s Global Food Traceability Center; and co-founder of both New Era Partners and FoodLogiQ.

“With Andrew Kennedy’s extensive experience in food supply chain traceability, there is no one more qualified to lead iFoodDS’ product strategy,” said Frank Yiannas, FDA deputy commissioner for food policy and response. “Based on our time working together at FDA, I am confident that Andrew will bring his experience, insight, and innovative mindset to his new role, and will help solidify iFoodDS’ position as a leading provider of traceability software for large enterprises and suppliers of all sizes.”

Kwik Lok partners for supply chain transparency, traceability

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 21:07:07 GMT

Yakima, Wash.-based Kwik Lok is partnering with traceability solutions provider Trustwell.

The collaboration will provide customers with a comprehensive suite of tools to ensure product safety, regulatory compliance for FSMA and Sunrise 2027, and consumer trust, along with opportunity for marketing and branding, according to a news release.

By combining Kwik Lok’s closure labels with the advanced data capabilities of Trustwell’s FoodLogiQ Traceability software, the companies are offering a more robust solution for food manufacturers, distributors and retailers, the release said.

The release said the partnership will enable businesses to:

Scan to enhance product safety — Placing a two-dimensional code on a Kwik Lok closure label at the time of product packing, which will help identify and address potential risks at the item level throughout the supply chain, ensuring that products meet the highest safety standards;
Streamline tracing and simpler regulatory compliance — The combined offerings simplify tracing compliance with complex food safety regulations such as FSMA and Sunrise 2027, reducing the burden on businesses and minimizing the risk of costly recalls. Customers already using Kwik Lok closing machines may already be “label ready” cutting down on the cost of compliance.
Build consumer trust — By providing greater transparency into the supply chain, the partnership will help businesses build trust with consumers and foster long-term loyalty.
Expand marketing and branding — Open up branding and promotional opportunities to help grow cart size.

“We are thrilled to partner with Trustwell to deliver enhanced value to our customers,” Chris Latta, new business development director at Kwik Lok, said in the release. “Together, we can provide a comprehensive solution that addresses the critical needs of the food industry in a cost-effective way that build consumer trust”

The release said key benefits of the partnership include:

End-to-end visibility — Gain complete visibility into the supply chain, from packing to the consumer’s table.
Efficient recall management — Reduce the time and costs associated with recalls by using the two-dimensional code on a Kwik Lok closure label along with Trustwell’s streamlined data processes.
Expert support — Benefit from Kwik Lok’s and Trustwell’s team of experts who provide guidance and support to ensure successful implementation and ongoing use.

“We are excited and proud to partner with Kwik Lok on one of the most impactful traceability efforts to move the industry forward,” Katy Jones, CEO of Trustwell, said in the release. “At Trustwell, we envision a future where traceability data can be leveraged at every point along the farm-to-fork journey to build safer, more sustainable food supply chains, meet modern traceability requirements, and provide consumers with the information they need to feed their families. We see this partnership as an ideal opportunity to bring Trustwell’s data-forward approach and industry-leading FoodLogiQ Traceability software together with Kwik Lok’s established track record for innovation, moving one step closer to that future.”

Sysco adding 'advanced' food traceability steps for FSMA 204

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 16:02:45 GMT

Sysco Corp. says it will implement advanced traceability measures, effective summer 2024, to ensure its food products’ safety, quality and transparency from farm to table.

The plan also supports the Food Traceability Rule, issued by the Food and Drug Administration under the Food Safety Modernization Act, according to a news release. The rule mandates establishing a traceability record-keeping system for certain foods to facilitate faster identification and rapid removal of potentially harmful products from the market.

“Sysco is dedicated to leading the industry in food safety to protect our customers and our communities,” said Charles Leftwich, Sysco vice president of food safety and quality assurance. “As the industry leader, we’re not just working toward our regulatory compliance, we’re also taking steps to help our suppliers comply.”

The release listed key components of Sysco’s traceability initiative:

Strong partnerships — To bolster its traceability efforts, Sysco will partner with iFoodDS — a provider of traceability, food safety and quality management solutions. This collaboration will give Sysco’s supplier network flexible, interoperable and pragmatic options for sharing data required by FSMA 204.
Enhanced digital tracking systems — Sysco will use digital technologies to streamline product tracking through every stage of the supply chain to provide real-time visibility and ensure the integrity of traceability data.
Supplier collaboration — Sysco will work closely with its network of suppliers to implement traceability practices. Sysco, in partnership with iFoodDS, will provide education and guidance to align supplier processes with Sysco’s traceability standards.
Customer support — Sysco said it is committed to supporting its customers with an effective solution that provides clear and accessible information regarding the traceability of its products.
Continuous improvement and compliance — Sysco will establish an internal task force to monitor compliance and improve traceability processes. This team will work to ensure that Sysco remains at the forefront of food safety and regulatory adherence.

New Era of Smarter Food Safety is upon us

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:40:40 GMT

The Food and Drug Administration’s New Era of Smarter Food Safety and corresponding “blueprint” that guides the process are not a quick fix to outbreaks that led regulators to seek new answers.

The FDA, which released the New Era details and blueprint on July 13, said it’s a 10-year plan. As expected, it leans heavily on technology, particularly in traceability and outbreak responses.

Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, whose tenure included several E. coli outbreaks linked to romaine lettuce, voiced concerns about the lack of technology hampering investigations, and said it would be a priority for the FDA.

In introducting the New Era plan, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn on July 13 said it’s important the technology is used “to build and put in place more effective approaches and processes.”

The blueprint plan has four core elements:

Tech-enabled traceability;
Smarter tools and approaches for prevention and outbreak response;
New business models (such as e-commerce) and retail food modernization; and
Food safety culture.

‘No surprises’

Jennifer McEntire, the United Fresh Produce Association’s vice present of food safety and technology, said the blueprint doesn’t include any surprises, and is a “solid outline of where food safety should be headed.”

Questions, McEntire said, include:

Will early adopters be rewarded by customers/consumers for embracing some of these initiatives?
What will incentivize those who lag behind?
And who is going to measure progress over these next 10 years?

“The blueprint covers a lot of ground and I’m curious to see the areas that move quickly and the ones we’re still talking about a decade from now,” she said.

Trevor Suslow, vice president of produce safety at the Produce Marketing Association , said the blueprint has few unanticipated, but all generally welcomed framework elements to advance food safety. Trade associations will continue to be involved in the process, he said.

“One key opportunity for the produce industry is to respond to the oversight management incentives described by FDA by moving beyond mere baseline compliance with investment in broad advancements in food safety systems, including end-to-end traceability and verifiable food safety culture,” Suslow said.

Preventing outbreaks

Inside the FDA, plans include strengthening procedures and protocols for conducting root cause analyses to understand how food becomes contaminated in the hopes of preventing it in the first place.

“Another example of the kinds of new tools we’re developing for prevention can be seen in a pilot program we’re conducting that will leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning to strengthen the agency’s review of imported foods at ports of entry to help ensure that they meet U.S. food safety standards,” Hahn said in the statement.

Hahn said the FDA was days away from announcing the blueprint details in March when the pandemic delayed it and work turned to address COVID-19.
“In the months that have followed, it has become even clearer — from our experiences with the pandemic and the lessons we have been learning as part of the FDA’s response to it — just how essential the actions outlined in this blueprint are and, if anything, that they are more important now than ever,” Hahn said in his statement.

According to the blueprint, the FDA plans to engage members of the industry, academics, trade associations, consumer groups and regulators agencies and groups it traditionally has not worked with before, including technology companies.

“We recognize that building on our food safety approach in a rapidly evolving and interconnected world will require resources and innovation,” according to the blueprint.

“Continued investments throughout FDA and the food safety system will be critical to improving public health and reducing supply chain disruption.”

The FDA has a FAQ list on its New Era for Smarter Food Safety website .

A 10-year plan

In a July 13 media call, Frank Yiannas, deputy commissioner for food policy and response for the FDA, said some of the document’s aspects will be addressed by the end of the year, but the FDA sees the blueprint as a decade-long pursuit with evolving activities.

One of the issues the agency is working on right now is Section 204 of the FSMA: Enhancing Tracking and Tracing of Food and Recordkeeping, a component of which requires the FDA to designate high-risk food that would require additional recordkeeping.

During the media call, Yiannas said the “one step forward, one step back” model of traceability is no longer the goal, and although Section 204 doesn’t address technology or set an end-to-end traceability standard, that’s the desired goal.

“We are approaching that rule with what we call a 21st-century mindset,” he said.

“We are limited by what we can say about rulemaking, but what I can say to you is that we are being thoughtful and thinking about what our key elements for traceability purposes are.”

The blueprint doesn’t ban paper records, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to meet expectations, and retail partners are becoming more aware of supplier’s methods and exerting more pressure on growers to modernize.

He said the concept of a linear “supply chain” doesn’t apply to the food supply, and he prefers “food system.”

“The idea or notion that everybody can get into a central database and track foods easily is just too simplistic, so what we’re trying to do is to be very intentional and strategic,” Yiannas said.

Many outbreaks are linked to foods bought at retail and not foodservice, he said, and the FDA is interested in a retail food safety summit to address the issue.

Related stories:

Year in Produce No. 2 — Food Safety

FDA official promises new era of food safety

FDA calls for ‘New Era of Food Safety’

Food safety solutions provider acquires HarvestMark

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:33:24 GMT

IFoodDecisionSciences Inc. has acquired traceability provider HarvestMark from Trimble.

IFoodDS provides food safety and process control software solutions, according to a news release from Tribmle, a software and hardware company that helps customers improve safety and sustainability.

IFoodDS and HarvestMark worked on a food safety, traceability and quality management project that was demonstrated in the Western Growers Food Safety Risk Management Program announced in 2019.

“As Trimble evaluated the long-term success of HarvestMark, the optimal solution was to sell the business to iFoodDS, allowing Trimble to focus on its core strategy to increase farm operational efficiencies in the field,” Darryl Matthews, senior vice president of Trimble’s Resources and Utilities Segment, said in the release. “We look forward to continuing to collaborate with iFoodDS, enabling Trimble’s farming customers to leverage an integrated food safety, traceability and quality control solution as part of their overall operations.”

Integrating HarvestMark’s traceability and quality inspection information with IFoodDS; food safety data, the company offers a comprehensive supply chain management platform for produce grower-shippers, packers, foodservice companies and retailers, according to the release.

“The decision to acquire HarvestMark is driven by our mission to further enable customers to minimize their supply chain risks and allow them to focus on the business of growing and selling food,” Diane Wetherington, IFoodDS CEO, said in the release.

The combined company streamlines management of food safety and quality control risks be providing traceability at the lot and item level, with real-time tracking of food safety practices, according to the release.

Related stories:

iFoodDS appoints Vic Smith to board of directors

Western Growers launches food safety software program

PTI adds, updates tools to support traceability

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:37:07 GMT

The Produce Traceability Initiative has added/upgrade four tools for the industry to support traceability implementation.

The tools, according to a news release, are:

Canada/U.S. Harmonized Case Label;
Revised Best Practices for Formatting Case Labels
Template for Sharing Traceback Data with regulators; and
Updated Advance Ship Notice (ASN).

“As the Canadian industry strives for compliance with the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations and the U.S. industry prepares for the September release of draft Food Safety and Modernization Act traceability-related regulations, traceability is increasingly a focus across the supply chain and with consumers,” Doug Grant, executive vice president and chief operations officer at The Oppenheimer Group and PTI chairman, said in a news release. “These new and updated resources support a renewed commitment to traceability efforts and bring clarity and harmonization to the tools that support traceability.”

The PTI is supported by the Produce Marketing Association , United Fresh Produce Association , the Canadian Produce Marketing Association and GS1 US .

The Harmonized Case Label comes from a process to design a label accepted by grocery and foodservice buyers in Canada and the U.S., according to the release, and also meets buyer and regulatory requirements and GS1 standards. The effort included discussions with and confirmation of support by buyers.

The Produce Traceback Template was initiated as part of the Romaine Task Force, and finalized by PTI working groups, according to the release. It’s designed to transmit traceability data to regulators in a traceback investigation.

“The template was developed with guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for produce companies to better manage responses to inquiries about potentially harmful products in the supply chain, regardless of whether or not they are PTI compliant,” according to the release. “The tool is designed to be used by companies of varying sizes who are at any point in their traceability journey.”

This summer, the PTI groups will use a pilot program to determine how the Produce Traceback Template can help the food industry to align on traceability best practices and “for interoperability and regulatory requirements of the future,” according to the release.

The PTI Best Practices for Formatting Case Labels has been updated and includes information to enable integration into operations regardless of the commodity being packed.

The PTI also updated the Advance Ship Notice with a technical change to support electronically share commercial and traceability information among trading partners.

Related stories:

PTI council looks for support throughout supply chain

United Fresh: It’s time to talk about food safety commitment

Is PTI worth the work? FDA, Walmart among those saying yes

C.H. Robinson, Microsoft partner on supply chain transparency

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 20:00:00 GMT

C.H. Robinson , Eden Prairie, Minn., and Microsoft are working to provide real-time visibility in the supply chain, a partnership that will accelerate innovation in transportation, according to the companies.

C.H. Robsinson’s Navisphere platform and Microsoft’s Azure/Azure IoT are at the center of the agreement that will enable C.H. Robinson customers access real-time visibility of shipments, according to a news release.

The partnership gives C.H. Robinson the ability to quickly scale and adapt technology, according to Chris O’Brien, chief commercial officer.

“As we continue to invest and enhance our technology built by and for supply-chain experts, we look to partner with other best-in-class companies that bring the most value to our customers,” O’Brien said in the release. “Through Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform, we gain more scalability, premier data security and increased application speed, which benefit our customers and carriers around the world.”

Navisphere is the company’s multimodal transportation management platform. With the partnership, Navisphere will use Azure IoT Central to amass more data, including temperature, humidity, light, shock and pressure to document conditions in the supply chain.

“We are committed to providing customers with a trusted, easy-to-use platform so they can build seamless, smart and secure solutions regardless of where they are on their IoT journey,” Sam George, corporate vice president of Azure IoT at Microsoft, said in the news release.

The two companies already collaborate on technology. C.H. Robinson’s Navisphere is used across Microsoft’s global supply chain, according to the release. Navisphere Vision, a real-time visibility product, leverages Azure IoT machine learning and predictive analytics to assess potential supply chain disruptions, according to the release.

C.H. Robinson will integrate its real-time pricing, execution and transportation management tools into Microsoft’s Dynamics 365, as part of the agreement.

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FDA’s ‘New Era’ blueprint to guide next decade of food safety

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:40:14 GMT

As expected, the Food and Drug Administration’s New Era of Smarter Food Safety leans heavily on technology, particularly in traceability and outbreak responses.

Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, whose tenure included several E. coli outbreaks linked to romaine, voiced concerns about the lack of technology hampering investigations, and said it would be a priority for the FDA.

In announcing the “blueprint” for the New Era of Smarter Food Safety on July 13, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said it’s important the technology is used “to build and put in place more effective approaches and processes.”

The blueprint has four core elements:

Tech-enabled traceability;
Smarter tools and approaches for prevention and outbreak response;
New business models and retail food modernization; and
Food safety culture.

Hahn said the blueprint to implement the New Era builds on the work the FDA has taken with the Food Safety Modernization Act, and is the next stage in the process.
Each of the core elements are assigned leaders from the FDA’s foods program .

“We want to explore ways to encourage companies to adopt tracing technologies and also to harmonize efforts to follow food from farm to table,” Hahn said in his statement . “We should strive to speak the same language, by espousing similar data standards across government and industry for tracking and tracing a food product.”

Inside the FDA, plans include strengthening procedures and protocols for conducting root cause analyses to understand how food becomes contaminated in the hopes of preventing it in the first place.

“Another example of the kinds of new tools we’re developing for prevention can be seen in a pilot program we’re conducting that will leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning to strengthen the agency’s review of imported foods at ports of entry to help ensure that they meet U.S. food safety standards,” Hahn said in the statement.

Hahn said the FDA was days away from announcing the blueprint details in March when the pandemic delayed it and worked turned to address COVID-19.

“In the months that have followed, it has become even clearer — from our experiences with the pandemic and the lessons we have been learning as part of the FDA’s response to it — just how essential the actions outlined in this blueprint are and, if anything, that they are more important now, than ever,” Hahn said in his statement.

According to the blueprint, the FDA plans to engage members of the industry, academics, trade associations, consumer groups and regulators agencies and groups it traditionally has not worked with before, including technology companies.

“We recognize that building on our food safety approach in a rapidly evolving and interconnected world will require resources and innovation,” according to the blueprint. “Continued investments throughout FDA and the food safety system will be critical to improving public health and reducing supply chain disruption.”

While some of the document’s aspects will be addressed by the end of the year, the FDA describes it as a decade-long pursuit with evolving activities.
The FDA has a FAQ list on its New Era for Smarter Food Safety webite.

SIMBA Lite brings lower-cost PTI compliance

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 19:33:27 GMT

Dynamic Systems Inc., Bellevue, Wash., has launched a lower-cost version of its SIMBA traceability system designed for smaller produce growers and packers.

SIMBA (Simple Inventory Management Barcode Accuracy) Lite can be implemented for less than $10,000, according to a news release, giving smaller companies accessibility to higher levels of traceability and inventory systems.

SIMBA Lite addresses several needs for small growers and packers, according to the release, including:

Traceability/labeling requirements: The system is Produce Traceability Initiative-compliant, preparing serialized case and pallet labels that include type, grade, size, weight and other information;
Inventory and shipping tracking: The system provides a perpetual stock inventory as products are shipped; and
Ability to upgrade: Users can upgrade with SIMBA Logistics, a mobile app that uses barcodes to track inventory in a warehouse, and SIMBA Pro, which brings label printing onto the plant food for real-time inventory and production information.

Key results include accuracy, end-to-end traceability and PTI compliance, according to the release.

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FDA to announce details of food safety ‘blueprint’

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:40:01 GMT

The Food and Drug Administration is releasing details of its New Era of Smarter Food Safety Blueprint.

The agency plans to announce details 1 p.m. Eastern July 13, with remarks from FDA Commissioner Stephan Hahn and Frank Yiannas, deputy commissioner. More information will be available at the New Era of Smarter Food Safety webpage .

Yiannas gave a preview of the plans during the GS1 Connect: Digital Edition virtual show in mid-June. His discussion with Bob Carpenter, GS1 US president and CEO, is available online .

The FDA announced its “New Era” plan in spring 2019 after E. coli outbreaks traced to leafy greens and romaine lettuce. According to the announcement for the initiative, the blueprint to meet food safety goals focuses on traceability, technology and evolving business models.

Related story:

FDA extends deadline for comments on ‘New Era’ food safety plan

FDA official promises new era of food safety

FDA calls for ‘New Era of Food Safety’

Share-ify expands traceability support with Trace-ify

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 17:16:20 GMT

Orlando, Fla.-based Share-ify says its traceability platform, Trace-ify, is being rolled out as a stand-alone product to create a lower price point for companies who are seeking a fully functional, cost-effective Food Safety Modernization Act 204 compliance and traceability solution.

Trace-ify, a longtime feature of the Share-ify Ver-ify inspection/quality control solution, is a comprehensive traceability platform designed to help businesses more easily comply with the FSMA 204 while also assisting companies with interoperability, according to a news release. Trace-ify helps all parties in an a-la-carte model that enables companies to connect to features in the Share-ify platform that they may be missing in their own back-of-house solutions, according to the company. Trace-ify uses GS1’s EPCIS data standard via Application Program Interface or “API,” the release said.

Share-ify says Trace-ify offers features for tracking and documentation of critical tracking events — or CTEs — and food products throughout the supply chain. More specifically, Trace-ify will allow suppliers without EPCIS via API capability to connect to their large retailers or foodservice customers through Share-ify to share key data elements — or KDEs — that comply with FSMA 204 and other customer traceability requirements.

By leveraging advanced software technology, Trace-ify not only meets the stringent requirements of FSMA 204, but also enhances overall food safety and transparency by enabling small companies to transmit data by uploading files, manual keying information, and/or connecting via API, according to Share-ify.

The company said Trace-ify also works well for companies receiving shipping information from their trading partners; small restaurants and markets can now receive shipping KDEs from their larger distribution partners, making it easier to electronically document receiving KDEs for small companies.

“Trace-ify enables companies to stay ahead of regulatory demands and safeguard their brands with our state-of-the-art traceability solution in one easy to use portal — saving all parties time and money,” Angela Nardone, Share-ify chief operating officer, said in the release.

Share-ify says Trace-ify offers tools for end-to-end food traceability, ensuring that businesses meet all regulatory requirements. From supplier verification to real-time tracking and mock recalls, this platform seeks to simplify the complexities of FSMA 204 compliance, helping companies safeguard their supply chain and maintain the highest standards of food safety, the release said.

“Many large organizations are hamstrung by the inability to easily connect with their smallest trading partners,” Christina Bongo-Box, vice president at Share-ify, said in the release. “But now this issue is put to bed by the Share-ify platform being the conduit between small companies and their larger trading partners.”

DiMuto tackles supply chain inefficiency in Mexico

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 16:43:27 GMT

DiMuto says it is strategically expanding its operations in Mexico, gaining traction in the fresh strawberries and dry vegetables sector.

Partnering with a top global produce distributor in the U.S., DiMuto is poised to digitally transform the fresh produce supply chain with its trade management solutions, according to a news release. Building on its three core pillars — Trade Management, Marketplace, and Financial Services — DiMuto said it continues to advance its artificial intelligence-powered marketplace.

Over the next few months, the company said it will aim to digitize, track and facilitate the movement of over $3 million worth of fresh produce including cucumbers, bell peppers and strawberries from Mexico into the U.S. The development reinforces DiMuto’s mission to redefine global agri-trade, enhancing transparency, traceability and operational efficiency while promoting sustainability across the supply chain, according to the release.

“At DiMuto, we are committed to transforming the way supply chains operate,” Ruben Alan Tapia, head of corporate development Latin America at DiMuto and member of the International Fresh Produce Association Supply Chain Council, said in the release. “Our expansion in Mexico reflect our ongoing dedication on enhancing the capabilities of our partners in this vital market. We aim to equip them with technological tools foster resilience in a complex environment while driving sustainability through greater transparency and collaboration across the supply chain.”

Leveraging AI and data-driven insights, DiMuto said it streamlines complex cross-border trade processes to help ensure better outcomes for both growers and buyers.

DiMuto said its AI-powered solution addresses the growing demand for compliance with food safety and traceability regulations. The company provides real-time visibility across the supply chain, enhancing communication among all stakeholders, and significantly reducing such inefficiencies.

DiMuto has been actively facilitating the export of exotic fruits from Latin America to the Asia Pacific, including yellow pitahaya and granadilla from Ecuador, mangoes from Colombia, as well as blueberries from Argentina and Ecuador, the release said. The produce has been digitized and tracked on the DiMuto Platform, reaching markets such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore under the company’s private label.

Inteligistics shares FSMA 204 reporting stopgap

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 13:34:23 GMT

As the fresh produce industry gears up for the Jan. 25, 2026, implementation of the Food and Drug Administration’s requirements for additional traceability records through Section 204 of the Food Safety Modernization Act — or FSMA 204 — Inteligistics says its 1-Click FSMA report helps provide traceability lot code tracking and reporting for critical tracking events, or CTEs.

Inteligistics says the rule aims to create faster identification and rapid removal of potentially contaminated food from the market, resulting in fewer foodborne illnesses and/or deaths.

As part of this rule, companies that grow, manufacture, process, pack, hold or sell perishable foods must maintain records of each step of the supply chain where an infestation could occur. These key events, CTEs or key data elements, or KDEs, must be available to subsequent recipients of the product as well as to the FDA within 24 hours of notice.

A fresh produce item could have multiple CTEs before reaching the end consumer — harvesting, packing, etc. Intelligestics estimates that in a typical perishable supply chain with five to eight segments, it can take up to a week for the FDA to identify all locations of implicated product and begin recall efforts.

Inteligistics said its 1-Click FSMA report works with existing data platforms and does not require its users to upgrade or migrate to another platform.

“Faster removal of implicated products from the system results in less sickness and death, fewer lawsuits and less damage to brand reputation,” Lawrence Mallia, vice president of digital transformation at Inteligistics, said in a news release. “Inteligistics can provide full supply chain tracking and reporting with all necessary KDEs and CTEs, from product origin to final destination in less than 60 seconds with a single click.”