Provision sat down with Dr. McEntire to discuss her perspective on food safety and how today’s influences will continue to shape regulations and supply chain actions for years to come.
The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) is now over 13 years old, and is still considered the most significant overhaul of food safety regulations in decades. Before FSMA was signed into law, most food safety practices—such as Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and various third-party certificates—were voluntary. FSMA moved this paradigm to implement mandatory preventive controls, shifting legal responsibility to companies for assessing and managing risk along their supply chains.
The other landmark aspect of FSMA was the extension of regulatory reach to the farm level, introducing strict food safety regulations where voluntary Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) had previously ruled. While it’s been difficult thus far to measure the direct impact on public health, FSMA’s efforts to reduce foodborne illnesses have doubtlessly been felt across all parts of the industry and around the world.
Prior to the birth of FSMA, there was very little public insight into what regulations governed the food industry in the United States. Due to FSMA's introduction and numerous high-profile recalls and outbreak events, consumers are now more aware than ever of where their food comes from, with heightened expectations of safety.
Decades of deeply-rooted consumer belief that U.S. food safety standards are rigorous and well-enforced have meant that food safety failures can easily shake confidence; this could lead to future pressure on regulators and industry players for further improvements to food safety measures industry-wide. Implementing strong FSMA 204-compliant traceability documentation and recordkeeping policies may also help companies to restabilize consumer confidence and sentiment in the face of a complaint, outbreak, withdrawal, or recall through quick and actionable responses.
Traceability & Compliance Deadlines
The FDA has laid down a January 2026 compliance date for the industry when it comes to FSMA 204 - but a significant number of producers see their “educate before you regulate” approach as a signal that they won’t see enforcement until 2027. This idea of delayed enforcement may give a false sense of security; after all, if an outbreak or recall occurs before the 2027 enforcement window, compliance will still be expected. With this in mind, businesses are advised to proactively meet the deadline and ensure their preventive measures are well-established to avoid compliance issues.
The Influence of Tech on Food Safety
Technology will almost certainly play a significant role in the food industry's future. From the use of sensors to collect real-time data in a continuous stream to the integration of digital data across systems to streamline operations, food safety professionals should seriously evaluate the benefits of harnessing technology. The shift away from manual processes not only has the potential to increase efficiency and reduce waste, but also makes the industry more attractive to new talent in the younger generations.
Data Sharing in the Food Industry
One of the most crucial ideas to keep in mind for the future of food safety is the potential for data sharing across supply chains for the benefit of public health and safety. While many companies today collect valuable data, the majority of it is kept private; this lack of transparency may be preventing a holistic view of trends and common risks that could be addressed collectively. Data from a single operation offers a limited view of improvement opportunities, while benchmarking against industry-wide data provides valuable context.
Multi-site operations have already begun to see benefits of this increased visibility in comparing data against each individual site, unlocking new continuous improvement opportunities while improving oversight. Imagine how much deeper the industry’s understanding could be if shared data from across the market could be aggregated and measured not only against each other but against audit codes and third-party requirements as well.
If technology-enabled data sharing became the norm, rather than the exception, the advent of more accurate meta-analysis and root cause investigation could revolutionize food safety. This level of collaboration is currently in its infancy, with concerns remaining around both the integrity and quality of data as well as privacy issues. Western Growers’ GreenLink initiative is an example of data sharing in action today, as growers upload their anonymized internal data and reap the benefits of streamlined analysis and insight across a group of peers.
The Future of Food Safety
Food safety is undoubtedly a never-ending journey; FSMA 204’s compliance and enforcement deadlines shouldn’t be viewed as a finish line, but a jumping-off point for continuous improvement. Foodborne illnesses are likely to remain a lurking threat indefinitely, and both voluntary and mandated actions must continue evolving to address risks as they emerge.
Looking ahead, the application and integration of impactful technologies like predictive analytics and sophisticated data-sharing and aggregation mechanisms may enable a future shift from reactive food safety to more proactive measures. By identifying potential issues before their escalation into public health crises, the food industry will be able to protect consumers and strengthen trust in the system for years to come.
