The FDA and “Farm to Table” Traceability - An Explanation

This month a new rule proposed by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) establishes a list of foods which would require additional record keeping beyond what existing regulations demand.  This new rule has been initiated to lay the foundation for vast ‘farm-to-table’ traceability across the US food industry. The rule establishes additional traceability record-keeping requirements “beyond what is already required in existing regulations,” according to the FDA. And the rule applies to all companies and organisations who manufacture, process or hold foods which are listed on a food traceability list; foods which pose particular safety risks to consumers. 

The availability of the more precise traceability records that are set out in the proposed rule are designed to avoid ‘blanket’ alerts across whole commodity sectors. Frank Yiannas, the FDA’s Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response, explains: “we lack a harmonised system of traceability from farm to fork that is universally understood and utilised.” He continued: “This means that during an outbreak investigation, our ability to rapidly track and trace specific food products through the supply chain is often impeded by a lack of data.” The new approach by the FDA will serve as a standardised basis to traceability record keeping, and will help the evolution and implementation of digital track-and-trace systems and food and beverage traceability software across the whole industry.

“What we are proposing…has a direct impact on preventing foodborne illness,” Yiannas explained. “More comprehensive traceability through access to records of key data elements associated with critical tracking events in food production and distribution has the potential to help us pinpoint the exact sources of foods involved in outbreaks.”

The Concept of Farm to Table

Farm-to-table traceability is a powerful tool. The idea is that a product’s origins can be traced in a matter of seconds. Product recalls become a swifter and more fluid process, and retailers and food manufacturers only need to recall the specific products in question. If the true source of food contaminants can be ascertained, the repercussions are minimized. In recent years, massive national food recalls in the United States have led to calls for greater visibility and traceability in the supply chain. Which is where traceability software solutions come into play. 

Traceability Software, Traceability Solutions and Blockchain

Today, the FDA dictates that all food manufacturers can rapidly identify and track every ingredient for every one of their products across the supply chain. And with this latest, new FDA rule, the demands are more stringent than ever before. Leading traceability software gives users the ability to research, track, and store information regarding the makeup of all their food and beverage products. A collaborative blockchain network set up between manufacturers and distributors makes 100% traceable food now possible. Many companies are still holding onto confused Excel spreadsheets and paper documents. But the most efficient food enterprises harness the power of traceability software, to run an optimised enterprise, and to meet the ever-increasing demands of the FDA. The software holds and presents all the key data — knowing for any item on a sales order, what purchase orders it connects to.  For recalls, quality control, and customer satisfaction, traceability solutions stitch together the logistical and legal demands of a food and beverage operation. With the right ERP (enterprise resource planning) and traceability solution, everything is at the user’s fingertips. Saving time and money and precisely meeting the ‘farm to table’ rules as instituted by the FDA. 

If your food and beverage company is looking to scale and grow via ERP solutions, traceability and demand planing software, and meet all the FDA requirements, get in touch with Cashmere today.