Sep 10, 2025
When food safety is on the line, every hour counts. The FDA’s new FSMA 204 rule is raising the standard for traceability, with stronger requirements designed to track products faster and manage recalls more effectively. At stake is not just compliance, but the ability to protect both consumers and businesses when outbreaks occur.
In this episode, Angela Fields from the FDA joins hosts Reid Jackson and Liz Sertl to explain what FSMA 204 means for supply chains. They explore why proactive traceability is replacing outdated reactive models and how better data is improving the speed and accuracy of investigations.
You’ll also hear real stories from outbreak response, how electronic records can cut weeks off investigations, and why collaboration across the food industry makes a difference for everyone.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
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How FSMA 204 creates new opportunities for supply chain transparency
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Why recalls work best when industry and regulators communicate clearly
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What steps companies can take now to prepare for the 2028 compliance deadline
Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Introducing Next Level Supply Chain
(01:58) Angela Fields’ background
(02:59) Food safety from a regulatory perspective
(04:13) How the environment affects supply chain risks
(06:59) What FSMA 204 means for industry
(08:40) Spinach outbreaks and the cost of recalls
(09:53) Why regulations also protect food companies
(14:23) How electronic records speed outbreak investigations
(17:17) Who triggers recalls and how they happen
(19:33) Best practices companies use to prevent recalls
(22:15) Where consumers can track recalls and outbreaks
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Connect with the guests:
Angela Fields on LinkedIn
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