Just the Facts
Environmental
As the impacts of climate change intensify—manifesting in extreme weather events, shifting pest patterns, and resource scarcity—the need for a resilient and sustainable food system becomes of utmost importance
Rising global temperatures as a result of climate change make it harder to store and transport food safely. Climate change has the potential to substantially increase the incidence and magnitude of foodborne illness.
Traceability helps reduce food waste and promotes food security by providing crucial information about the origin and journey of food products—identifying inefficiencies within the food supply chain.
Traceability promotes responsible sourcing of food ensuring that food products are grown and distributed in an environmentally-friendly manner which includes reducing carbon footprint and ensuring sustainable agricultural practices.
Manufacturing, processing, retailing, packaging, and transportation of food make a major contribution to air, soil, and water pollution and GHG emissions which has a profound impact on biodiversity and enhance traceability measures would provide accountability to those who take advantage.
Children & Families
Food safety and traceability is a critical aspect of ensuring safety and quality in our food supply chain, especially for vulnerable populations such as children, expecting mothers, and families. By tracking the food journey from farm to table, traceability helps identify potential sources of contaminations and allows us to contain them efficiently.
The CDC estimates that each year roughly 1 in 6 Americans (or 48 million people) gets sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die of foodborne diseases every year. Many of these deaths are preventable with proper tracking.
Those most likely to be made severely ill or to be killed by foodborne illness are already the most vulnerable among us—the very young, the very old, pregnant people, and those who are already sick or have otherwise compromised health.
Children under 5 years of age account for one-third of worldwide foodborne illnesses and deaths due to their developing immune systems.
Research shows that around 3/4 of consumers believe that food traceability is important for ensuring food safety.
Aging & Immunocompromised Individuals
Food safety and traceability in our food systems is paramount for protecting the health of seniors and individuals with compromised immune systems. These populations are dangerously vulnerable to foodborne illnesses due to their weakened immune responses and age-related health issues.
Last year, food recalls reached their highest level since before the pandemic. Outbreaks linked to recalled food products sickened 1,100 people and killed six in 2023, and recalls are expected to continue rising.
Rolling back or delaying the implementation of FSMA 204 will slow our ability to combat foodborne illness and save the lives of vulnerable individuals.
Finally, food safety experts agree that any further delays will cause unnecessary sickness and death at scale.