A US law intended to assist federal agencies in investigating foodborne illness outbreaks will not come into effect until 2028. The regulation, known as the 'traceability rule', was originally scheduled to be implemented in January 2026.
Congress passed the law in 2011 as part of the Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA). It mandates enhanced record-keeping for high-risk foods such as soft cheese, leafy greens, eggs, and peanut butter, for those who manufacture, process, pack, or hold them.
Experts suggest the rule could have helped to stop the US's largest cyclosporiasis outbreak sooner. This outbreak sickened over 24,000 people and resulted in two deaths in the midwest.
Consumer advocacy groups and farmers support the rule, which aims to allow the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to more quickly identify the origin of tainted food. However, retailers and food manufacturers have expressed concerns, citing potential increases in labor, equipment, and space, along with associated costs.