About Our Movement

Safe Food Now is a coalition of grassroots advocates who are fighting for food safety and traceability that will enhance our country’s food supply chain to keep our children, families, and communities healthy. We are tired of the constant food recalls, so we are building the largest grassroots advocacy efforts in support of this rule to keep our children, families, and communities healthy.

What is FSMA 204?

In 2011, Congress enacted the bipartisan Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which mandates the FDA to create a Food Traceability Rule (Section 204) to improve record-keeping and data sharing for high-risk foods during outbreak investigations.

The FDA finalized this rule in 2022, with a compliance deadline of January 20, 2026, aimed at swiftly identifying and removing contaminated food, thus enhancing public health and supporting resilient food systems.

However, corporate interests are attempting to undermine this rule by promoting the Food Traceability Enhancement Act (H.R.7563), into Ag. Appropriations Act H.R.9027 (as Section 768).

If successful, this could indefinitely delay FSMA 204, jeopardizing the safety of our environment, our families, and our aging and vulnerable populations. 

Benefits of Food Traceability

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Improved Food Safety

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Enhanced Quality Control

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Increased Transparency

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Improved Supply Chain Efficiency

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Benefits of Food Traceability ~ Improved Food Safety ~ Enhanced Quality Control ~ Increased Transparency ~ Improved Supply Chain Efficiency ~

How We Got Here

The Food Traceability Final Final Rule was developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as part of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). This rule will enhance traceability of specific and high-risk foods to facilitate quicker identification and removal of potentially contaminated products from the market, reducing foodborne illnesses and deaths.

January 2001
FSMA was signed into law, granting the FDA enhanced authorities to oversee food safety.

November 2022
The FDA published the food traceability final rule, fulfilling Section 204 of FSMA that mandates the establishment of additional record keeping requirements for certain foods.

Fall 2024
Powerful interest groups with deep pockets lobbied Congress to infinitely delay the Food Traceability Final Rule, Because of this, the Safe Food Coalition was brought to life to fight against these powerful groups and advocate for safe food for our children, families, and communities. 

December 2024
Brian Ronholm, former Deputy Undersecretary for Food Safety at the Department of Agriculture (USDA) penned an op-ed urging legislators to reject attempts to undermine the Food Traceability Final Rule—adding urgency to this issue in lieu of the many food recalls that occurred last year.

January 2025
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is on the record supporting food traceability “the Food Traceability Rule is an important part of implementing the Food Safety Modernization Act” and he’s committed to “working with the FDA to fully realize the goals of this regulation”

February 2025
PIRG Education Fund published a bombshell report on the rapid rise of deaths and hospitalizations related to contaminated food recalls. 

Spring 2025
Congress is set to vote on the Food Traceability Final Rule, determining whether the food industry has to comply with the rule by January 2026.

January 2026
 If the rule is passed, Compliance with the food traceability final rule is mandatory for all impacted entities by January 2026.

Our Support

Although the Food Industry Association has not yet embraced traceability and are actively fighting against it, their member companies and other prominent industry leaders are working on compliance today. 

What Industry Leaders Are Saying

Our proactive approach to FSMA 204 rule positions us as a leader in regulatory compliance. We have assembled a dedicated team and established robust systems to meet the stringent requirements for enhanced flexibility of high-risk foods. This strategic investment strengthens our risk management framework, improves operational efficiency, and fosters greater consumer trust in our products and our supply chain resistance. Ultimately, our commitments to FSMA 204 compliance creates a significant competitive advantage and drives long-term value creation for our stakeholders.”

Sysco is dedicated to leading the industry in food safety to protect our customers and communities and as the industry leader, we’re not just working toward our own regulatory compliance, we’re also taking steps to help our suppliers comply”

We recognized the importance of FSMA 204 to the industry and we were looking for an easy-to-use and affordable solution that works across our total supply chain…Traceability is not only an FDA requirement, it’s also part of our ongoing commitment to food safety, regulatory compliance and transparency in our supply chain”

What Foods Are On The Food Traceability List?

Vegetables

Finfish

Smoked Fish

Crustaceans

Molluscan Shellfish

Ready-to-eat deli salads

Melons

Peppers

Sprouts

Tomatoes

Tropical Tree Foods

Fruits

Cheeses

Shell Eggs

Nut Butters

Cucumbers

Herbs

Leafy Greens