The Food Traceability List (FTL) is a list of food products that require traceability recordkeeping that has been established as a part of the FDA final rule on Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods (Food Traceability Final Rule) that go beyond those in existing regulations for persons who manufacture, process, pack or hold foods.

The FDA has recently provided a FAQ page to address questions found here.

According to the FDA, the core of this rule is “a requirement that persons subject to the rule who manufacture, process, pack, or hold foods on the FTL, maintain records containing Key Data Elements (KDEs) associated with specific Critical Tracking Events (CTEs); and provide information to the FDA within 24 hours or within some reasonable time to which the FDA has agreed.”

Some of the commodities on the Food Traceability List include (but aren’t limited to) the following:

Nut butters

Cucumbers (fresh)

Herbs (fresh)

Leafy greens (fresh)

Leafy greens (fresh-cut)

Melons (fresh)

Peppers (fresh)

Sprouts (fresh)

Tomatoes (fresh)

Fruits (fresh-cut)

Vegetables other than leafy greens (fresh-cut)

Ready-to-eat deli salads (refrigerated)

Western Growers recently hosted the Demystifying FSMA Rule 204: Supply Chain Traceability webinar; resources are available for WG members here.

Western Growers is available to members for guidance and support. If you have questions, send an email to [email protected] or review previous webinars on the subject here.