Wakefern values the shared commitment of our trusted suppliers to ensure the safety of the food and products we sell and comply with government regulations enacted to improve our food system.
In 2011, Congress passed the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which shifts the regulatory focus from response to foodborne illness to prevention. We also know that foodborne illness has the potential to forever impact lives – and cause lasting damage to the reputation of manufacturing and retail companies.
As with all government regulations, Wakefern is committed to fully complying with the FDA’s new Food Traceability Rule’s recordkeeping requirements. We ask our suppliers that manufacture, process, pack, or hold foods included on the FDA Food Traceability List to comply with the mandated changes.
Compliance with Section 204(d) (FSMA 204) of the law will now require adding a traceability lot code and traceability lot code source as required data fields for all items on the FTL. Suppliers who provide food products on the FTL must also provide Key Data Elements (KDE) as defined by the regulation with each shipment of FTL products. Suppliers shipping foods that are, or contain, an ingredient on the FTL are required to be in full compliance with the law by January 20, 2026.
While these changes may present challenges, we value the opportunity to improve food safety and look forward to collaborating with our vendors to ensure this is a smooth transition.
The information below will assist affected suppliers during this transition and includes a timeline to provide the required KDEs for each covered product shipped to Wakefern by July 31, 2025.
We value our partnership and thank our suppliers in advance for ensuring their company’s commitment to meeting the requirements of FSMA 204.
To comply with FSMA 204 the defined Key Data Elements (KDEs) must be received from each vendor by July 31, 2025, as well as compliance with the specific requirements outlined in the following pages. This will provide time for both Wakefern and our suppliers to make any necessary adjustments to be fully compliant by the January 20, 2026 compliance date. Specific requirements covering five main areas about how the KDEs must be communicated are reflected below, and include:
- EDI 856 ASN Specification
- Bills of Lading Specification
- Pallet Label Requirements
- Case Label Requirements
- Required GDSN Attributes through Data Synchronization
Failure to provide the information required by FSMA 204 may result in fines or penalties from regulatory agencies due to non-compliance. Vendors needing assistance in implementing systems to meet these requirements should refer to the GS1 Supply Chain Regulation and Compliance Standards for additional information and guidance. Additionally, as always, you can contact Wakefern for support at [email protected].
Additional communication will follow shortly asking vendors to provide the status of their items subject to this regulation.
Learn more about the requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act, specifically Section 204 known as FSMA 204.
Read
What is the FSMA 204 Food Traceability – Rule FAQs & Definitions
FDA – Food Safety Modernization Act: Final Rule Requrements
GSGS1 – Supply Chain Standards and Regulations: Food Safety Modernization Act
Questions?
For questions related to traceability, please contact [email protected].