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Each element of the FSMA 204 Rule

What FSMA 204 asks and how Wherefour answers

Click through each section to navigate the requirements.

In scope

Food Traceability List

What the rule asks

The rule applies to foods on the FDA Food Traceability List such as leafy greens, fresh-cut produce, shell eggs, nut butters, certain cheeses, seafood and more.

With Wherefour

Wherefour flags which of your products and ingredients fall on the FTL, so you always know exactly what's in scope.

Watch the overview

See how Wherefour solves FSMA 204

A quick look at how Wherefour turns the Food Traceability Rule into effortless traceability, automated record-keeping, and real-time audit readiness.

Leading brands Rely on Wherefour for Compliance

Diana, DOU Bakehouse
” Customer Story

DOU Bakehouse relies on Wherefour to meet audits, track ingredients in real time, pass compliance checks quickly, and scale while securing major clients.

FAQ

FSMA 204 questions, answered

The essentials on the Food Traceability Rule, the 2028 deadline, and what it means for your business.

It's Section 204(d) of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, the Food Traceability Rule. It requires businesses handling foods on the FDA Food Traceability List (FTL) to keep additional records (Key Data Elements tied to Critical Tracking Events) and provide them to the FDA quickly during a food-safety investigation.

July 20, 2028. It was extended from January 2026 by an FDA extension and a Congressional directive not to enforce the rule before that date.

Not really. The records only work if your data has been captured consistently for a while, and the rule depends on trading partners exchanging matching data. Starting early makes the deadline a non-event rather than a fire drill.

Domestic and foreign firms across the farm-to-table supply chain that manufacture, process, pack, or hold foods on the FTL for U.S. consumption. Some exemptions, modified requirements, and waivers apply.

The FDA's list of foods the rule covers fresh leafy greens, fresh-cut produce, shell eggs, nut butters, certain cheeses, and many seafood and ready-to-eat items. If you handle an FTL food or an ingredient containing one, the rule applies.

It captures the required data as you work, traces any lot one-up and one-down in one click, assigns lot codes automatically, and exports the FDA sortable spreadsheet on demand, turning days of work into minutes.