This rule applies to manufacturers, processors, packers, and holders of high-risk foods such as leafy greens, cheeses, shell eggs, nut butters, and fresh-cut fruits — spanning over 16 categories of products (find the list here).

What does Section 204(d) require?
It mandates the recordkeeping of Key Data Elements (KDEs) associated with Critical Tracking Events (CTEs) throughout the supply chain — from farm to fork.• KDEs include data such as lot codes, dates, and locations tied to processing, shipping, receiving, and transformation.
• CTEs are events where food is grown, received, transformed, or shipped.
Why it matters:
🦠 1 in 5 foodborne illness outbreaks in the U.S. is linked to foods on the FTL (FDA, 2021)💸 $30,000/day: potential cost of non-compliance per violation (FDA enforcement guidelines)
⏳ Deadline: July 2028 (after a 30-month delay) — but first movers are already preparing
🛒 Consumers and retailers increasingly demand radical transparency and proof of compliance
Why act now?
Complying early not only mitigates regulatory risk — it opens the door to:• Faster recalls and reduced liability
• Increased trust from consumers and partners
• Improved operational visibility and efficiency
• Competitive differentiation in a tightening regulatory landscape
How Connecting Food helps:
Our auditable traceability platform is natively built to support FSMA Section 204(d) compliance.We help food businesses:
✅ Automatically capture, verify, and store KDEs across all CTEs
✅ Trace every batch in real time, across complex multi-tier supply chains
✅ Generate audit-ready documentation instantly for FDA inspections
✅ Monitor supplier performance and data quality proactively
Whether you handle 100 or 10,000 SKUs, we scale with your operations and simplify traceability—without overloading your teams.
Ready to future-proof your traceability?
📅 Don’t wait until the deadline.Let’s turn compliance into your strategic growth lever.
Book a meeting with our team to explore how we can support your FSMA-readiness journey.
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At the heart of this transformation, Connecting Food offers an innovative solution that is reshaping the game.