What Restaurants Need to Know About FSMA 204 - Chris Rheault & Betsy Handelman - Grounded Podcast: Leaders in Produce, Food Service & Restaurant Supply Chain

Welcome to another episode of Grounded! Joining us today, we have two special guests from the Buyers Edge Platform Fresh Division: Betsy Handelman, the Director of Food Safety and Compliance, and Chris Rheault, the Executive Vice President. Betsy and Chris join host Lauren Mitchell to provide insights around the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA 204) and food safety in general. Learn with Lauren about the need for consumers to understand the roots of their food, how to comply with regulations, the role of technology in tracking and storing relevant data, and potential challenges in implementing these rules!

Takeaways:

• Section 204 of the FDA's Food Safety Modernization Act, commonly referred to as FSMA, specifies the traceability record requirements for foods on the food traceability list. In essence, the FTL identifies the specific foods that require additional traceability records.
• The food traceability list includes many fresh produce items and some other commodities. While some items in our food supply chain already have elements of the required traceability records, those on this list often lack certain key data elements, which is the focus of this rule.
• Cucumbers serve as a useful illustration, and the FDA offers an online supply chain example. The regulation covers critical tracking events, including farm origin, harvesting, cooling, and initial packing, each with distinct key data elements.
• In the traceability plan, operators and supply chain staff should define their roles, foresee critical tracking events, and grasp relevant key data elements for incoming and outgoing items. For instance, restaurant operators must ensure they receive essential key data elements from their suppliers, which should be documented in the plan. 
• Expect the FDA to contact both your corporate office and on-site staff, just like local government agencies. Preparedness is key, so ensure your team is ready to respond quickly by having the right suppliers, vendors, and key data elements in place. 
• As the last supply chain link, timely FDA data submissions are crucial. Partnering with tech-savvy providers is essential due to numerous distributors and markets. This regulation fosters tech adoption and innovation, with a central third-party partner for consolidating and normalizing supplier data being the key solution.

Quote of the Show:

• “It’s a responsibility for all of us to share; to lead, coach, and take ownership of the initiative to get the information we need.” - Chris Rheault 

Links:

• Betsy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-landen-handelman-80154325/
• Chris’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisrheault/
• Company Website: https://buyersedgeplatform.com/

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