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When it comes to FSMA Rule 204, the FDA isn’t just asking you to follow the breadcrumbs—they want the entire recipe, oven settings, and proof of delivery. The new traceability rule raises the bar on how food companies capture, manage, and share data. For leaders, that means compliance can’t be solved with a quick software purchase or a well-worded email to IT. What’s needed is a technical systems roadmap—a deliberate plan that bridges regulation, operations, and technology.

Some airline catering companies assume FSMA Rule 204 is meant for farms and grocery stores — not for operations in airport kitchens or airline trolleys. That assumption could put your business at risk. As the FDA’s traceability rule (FSMA Rule 204) gains traction, it's critical to reassess how your operations fit into the compliance picture — especially if you handle foods on the Food Traceability List (FTL).

Digital Transformation: Every so often, a question floats out of the corporate ether—perhaps from a CFO poking around LinkedIn or whispering to an AI assistant—and it actually gets me excited.

So, you’re diving into traceability—maybe to boost efficiency, meet compliance, or finally get a grip on your supply chain spaghetti. You’ve read the articles, heard the pitches, and maybe even sat through a vendor webinar or two. And now you’re wondering: “Do global standards actually matter?”

FDA traceback investigations under FSMA Rule 204 demand more than mock recalls—this two-part guide helps teams proactively plan for real scenarios, data requests, and compliance with traceability requirements.

When it comes to FSMA Rule 204, there’s one gray area that keeps tripping people up: the mysterious case of the ad-hoc purchase. It’s like the Bigfoot of traceability — people talk about it, some swear they’ve seen it, but no one’s quite sure how to handle it.

The FDA has signaled a likely extension of FSMA Rule 204 compliance to June 2028—but with no official change yet, food companies must keep preparing to avoid major traceability and regulatory risks.

Sustainability used to be seen as a side initiative—a brand booster, a CSR line item, or a cost of compliance. But that framing no longer works. In 2025, leading companies have stopped asking whether sustainability matters. Instead, they’re focused on embedding it directly into the heart of business strategy. Because the truth is: sustainability and strategy are now inseparable. And if you want to stay relevant—financially, operationally, and reputationally—they need to be built together.