Traceability and Consumer Trust: Kroger’s Approach to FSMA 204

Episode Summary

In this episode of Food Tech Talk: Supply Chain Insights From Farm to Fork, Lydia Adams interviews Catherine Cosby, Director of Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance at Kroger. With over 15 years of experience in the food industry, Catherine shares her journey and expertise in food safety. The conversation centers on FSMA 204 and its implications for the food industry, including a comprehensive overview of Kroger’s approach to complying with the rule.

Catherine explains Kroger’s decision to apply traceability requirements to all products (not just those on the Food Traceability List) with an emphasis on meeting consumer expectations and future-proofing their systems. The two discuss the benefits of implementing comprehensive traceability systems, including improved recall efficiency and better regulatory support and Catherine shares some best practices for implementation, the importance of cross-functional collaboration, and the role of technology in achieving traceability goals.