IEH Academy Webinar

The Traceability Rule

Well informed food processors and distributors recognize the critical importance of tracking every ingredient and packaging material in their portfolios.

Many have been implementing traceability systems for years to ensure both regulatory compliance and product safety. This long standing commitment to traceability became even more critical when Congress passed the Food Safety Modernization Act over a decade ago, mandating the FDA to identify specific foods requiring detailed recordkeeping to protect public health.

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Webinar Recording

Description

In the fall of 2024, the FDA finalized the Food Traceability Final Rule, specifying which foods must be tracked and the precise information to be included in those records. With the rule taking effect in 2026, it will have a far reaching impact on the industry. This webinar will explore the key components of the final rule and discuss why it’s highly likely that all producers under FDA or USDA jurisdiction will soon face similar traceability requirements.

Topics Covered:

What is the new rule, and when does it go into effect?
What is included, and what are the requirements?
Who is responsible, and who is exempt?
What are Critical Data Elements and Critical Tracking Events?
What are Traceability Lot Codes and the Traceability Plan?
Why every food processor and distributor must implement traceability
Resources

Who Should Attend

Purchasing Managers
Shipping and Logistics Managers
Food Safety and Quality Assurance Managers
Production Supervisors
Warehouse and Inventory Managers
Supply Chain Managers
Regulatory Compliance Managers
Operations Managers
Traceability System Administrators

Webinar Length

1 hour with Q&A to follow.

The webinar will include a 10-minute Q&A session where attendees can ask questions related to the The Traceability Rule. This interactive portion is designed to offer personalized guidance and facilitate the sharing of practical insights among participants.

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Meet the Instructor

Dr. Gene Bartholomew

Dr. Gene Bartholomew joined IEH as Vice President of Technical Services in 2019. He earned an M.S. and Ph.D. in microbiology from Cornell University and a B.S. in biology from Bucknell University. Dr. Bartholomew began his professional career at International Paper in 1983 as a research scientist.

During his 15 years there, he commercialized and validated an aseptic packaging system, managed a beverage pilot plant and its laboratory, started taste panel testing for the company, and advanced to manage several products, and development groups. Dr. Bartholomew then joined Smithfield Foods Packaged Meats. He started in the John Morrell Group as the corporate director of food safety for 7 meat processing and slaughter facilities and 1 spice plant. He later took on the role of Senior Director of Corporate Food Safety, during which he was responsible for 14 meat processing plants and several FDA-regulated plants.

Throughout his 20-year career at Smithfield, he led HACCP plan design and validation, thermal processing, regulatory compliance, sanitation, allergen control, and environmental pathogen monitoring. He also managed a corporate microbiology laboratory and its accreditation, has certifications in HACCP training, BRC, and SQF schemes, and is a Preventive Controls Qualified Individual. Dr. Bartholomew was a founding member of the North American Meat Institute Listeria Control Workshop and has taught numerous courses to members of the food industry.

Carol Cave

Ms. Carol Cave joined IEH as the Executive Vice President in 2024, bringing with her extensive expertise in regulatory affairs and consumer protection. She holds a B.S. in Consumer Economics from the University of Maryland.

Before joining IEH, Ms. Cave served as the Acting Associate Commissioner (ACRA) for the Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) at the Food and Drug Administration. In this role, she oversaw approximately 5000 ORA employees stationed across the U.S. and around the world.

Prior to her role as Acting ACRA, Ms. Cave served as Deputy Associate Commissioner, where she managed inspections, compliance, enforcement, field laboratory operations, import operations, and strategic planning.

Earlier in her career at the FDA, she served as the Assistant Commissioner of Import Operations, where she led the Office of Enforcement and Import Operations, ensuring FDA-regulated imported products comply with U.S. laws. Ms. Cave also led coordination efforts between the FDA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, developing joint regulations, policies, procedures, and operations.

Before her tenure at the FDA, Ms. Cave was the Deputy Director of the Office of Compliance and Field Operations at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). In this role, she collaborated with federal government agencies to identify potentially defective consumer products. With nearly 26 years at the CPSC, Ms. Cave held various leadership positions, including Director of State and Local Programs and Assistant Executive Director for the Office of Import Surveillance, ensuring the safety of consumer products nationwide.

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