The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) will conduct two pilot projects to improve tracking and tracing of food, which includes determining what type of data enhances product tracing and ways to connect the supply chain. Section 204 of FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act requires that these pilot studies be performed. This section also requires FDA to establish recordkeeping requirements for high-risk foods to aid in product tracing. IFT will solicit stakeholder input in designing and implementing these pilot projects.
After the pilot projects are complete, FDA will initiate rulemaking on recordkeeping requirements for high-risk foods to facilitate in product tracing. To do this, however, FDA must first define high-risk foods by considering factors such as foodborne illness data, likelihood of contamination, and severity of illnesses associated to the food.
Details regarding the design and implementation of the pilot projects is available at www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/FSMA/ucm270851.htm#Intro.
