IN THE NEWS NGANGA and and UNF UNFII Re Relleeaasese FFDADA T Tracraceeabiabilliittyy Guide Guide By Abasto he National Grocers Association (NGA) and United “吀栀e new traceability rule is one of the biggest changes Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) announced the release in food safety compliance our members have seen in over a of the highly anticipated Step-by-Step Guide to FDA decade,” said NGA President & CEO Greg Ferrara. “Food safety Traceability. is always a top priority for our members, and we’re incredibly T吀栀is essential resource was written and designed to thankful for the support of UNFI in their sponsorship of this help independent grocers achieve compliance with the Food easy-to-understand resource that will bene昀椀t independent and Drug Administration (FDA) “Requirements for Additional grocers,” he continued. Traceability Records for Certain Foods” rule e昀케ciently and e昀昀ectively. For his part, UNFI Chief Corporate A昀昀airs O昀케cer Matt 吀栀e guide is a complimentary bene昀椀t available to all NGA Echols, said: members. Beginning in January 2026, the FDA is requiring all “We are excited to partner with NGA on this resource companies that hold, pack, distribute, or sell food to keep to help independent grocers stay ahead as our detailed records for a speci昀椀c list of foods and be able to supply industry continues preparing for the new Food the FDA or local food safety authorities with these records Traceability rule.” . within 24 hours upon request. 吀栀e step-by-step-guide is designed to assist independent “We know how important it is for industry members to be able grocers and distributors in complying with this rule and includes to understand and easily navigate any new rule, and this guide summaries, diagrams, tables, and photos to breakdown the will be a useful resource as we continue to partner, explore, and 600-page rule into an easy-to-follow resource. assess workable, long-term solutions,” Echols added. In addition to the guide, NGA also launched an accompanying NGA members can request their complimentary guide online Traceability Center, where members can access online, while non-members can access it for an additional fee. numerous templates, glossaries, and even a mock traceability event exercise. 1414 NNOOVVEEMMBBEERR/ D/ DECECEEMMBBEER 2R 200224 4 AABBAASSTOTO..CCOOMM