By Leo Lowy, Sensor Product Management, Zebra Technologies

In an industry where safety and compliance are not just priorities but also necessities, the introduction of Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Section 204 has set new benchmarks. As the deadline of January 2026 inches closer, the need for a comprehensive and effective approach to achieving compliance is paramount. Enter FoodReady—your ultimate partner in not just meeting, but also excelling, in FSMA 204 compliance.

Something has to change.

The global food supply chain is increasingly complex, with food products often crossing multiple borders and changing hands before reaching consumers. Yet, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 600 million people—almost one in ten worldwide—fall ill after consuming contaminated food each year, resulting in 420,000 deaths.¹ These alarming statistics confirm it—the world needs innovative approaches to food safety.

To address these challenges, newer and more flexible technology and collaborative frameworks are needed. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) National Food Safety Data Exchange (NFSDX) platform and GS1 US' Electronic Product Code Information Services (EPCIS) standard should be the key tools to facilitate transparent data exchange across the supply chain. Additionally, artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) sensors can make it possible to monitor, predict, and respond to food safety issues in a proactive way.

We all want to prevent adverse food safety-related events from happening. To transform that intent into a reality, sharing key information among trading partners must become easier. That means making the changes needed to share key information.

Yet, how do we achieve these goals?

Evolving Risks Mean Methods Must Evolve

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that each year in the U.S. alone, 48 million people get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die from foodborne diseases.³ Climate change, globalization, emerging pathogens, and changes in food production contribute to these risks.

Environmental monitoring sensors are a crucial tool in detecting and mitigating these risks. A study published in the Journal of Food Protection found that monitoring food production, processing, and distribution environments are critical for enhancing food safety and quality.⁴ Integrating sensor information into EPCIS-based data flows allows for standardized tracking, thereby enhancing visibility and traceability up and down supply chains.

The NFSDX platform further supports this effort by providing a centralized method for data sharing among regulatory agencies and industry stakeholders. By aligning and integrating EPCIS structured environmental sensor data into the NFSDX, organizations can contribute to a national effort to monitor and respond to emerging threats, ensuring information about potential hazards is disseminated quickly.

Sharing is caring, but addressing problems quickly means knowing what to do when an issue is spotted.

Advanced Data Analytics and Predictive Modeling

Research has shown that, "The accuracy, speed, and reliability of machine learning (ML) modelshave widespread applications in food safety."⁵ Environmental monitoring sensors contribute critical data points, such as temperature and humidity, enhancing the predictive capabilities of these models (Figure 1).

The EPCIS standard ensures that data from across the supply chain are standardized, sharable, and accessible. This data exchange method can be used to enrich AI models with their lifeblood, data. Sharing this data fosters collective improvement across supply chain trading partners.

Of course, proprietary data and methods still need to be protected. Company "secrets" are secret for a good reason. However, exchanging data on product conditions, movements, risks, and events does not automatically mean losing control of intellectual property. That is especially true when supply chains are deeply interdependent.

Augmenting Human Expertise with Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) can bring much to food safety (Figure 2). Applications include risk prediction, monitoring, safety optimization, identification, and characterization of foodborne pathogens.⁶

While AI and automation offer significant advantages, they are most effective when complemented by human expertise. Environmental monitoring sensors provide real-time data that AI can process to identify potential risks, but human judgment is still essential for interpreting these findings and implementing solutions.

The takeaway? AI can help improve food safety—but for the system to work, human involvement is necessary.

Innovations in Food Handling and Safety Protocols

Technological advancements are transforming food handling practices. A pilot project monitoring baby food in India resulted in a 30 percent reduction in spoilage.⁸ Sharing EPCIS standardized data from these sensors could be made accessible to multiple stakeholders, helping ensure that safety protocols are consistently implemented (Figure 3).

Additionally, a World Economic Forum study showed that sensors could reduce food waste by up to 25 percent. Sensors provide real-time data on food conditions, enabling active measures to be taken to prevent spoilage.⁹

The data can be obtained; sharing it up and down the supply chain is what makes it meaningful.

Regulatory Shifts and Policy Implications

Regulatory bodies are emphasizing data sharing and transparency. Compliance with FDA's Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requires comprehensive recordkeeping and traceability systems. EPCIS nicely aligns with these requirements, facilitating FSMA compliance.

The Critical Tracking Events (CTEs) and Key Data Elements (KDEs) that FMSA Section 204 require can be derived from EPCIS events. For example, EPCIS can support the FMSA "Harvest" CTE through the provision of data from environmental sensors (Figure 4).¹⁰ This allows regulators access to real-time information, enhancing oversight and building trust.

Consumers are Watching

Trust is a key ingredient. It is time to rethink consumer education and public health communication. Consumers demand transparency.

Some items to consider:

• About 75 percent of shoppers surveyed say that transparency from food brands and manufacturers is "extremely important" or "important."
• 86 percent of consumers who say transparency is "important" also consider traceability as "extremely important" or "very important."
• 55 percent of U.S. consumers want to know "the story" behind their food—showing that they want to feel more connected to their food product purchases.¹¹

By leveraging sensor data and the EPCIS data exchange methods, companies can offer this transparency. For example, EPCIS makes it possible to create apps and dashboards that enable consumers to trace the journey of their food from farm to fork, increasing confidence in the products they consume. This transparency builds trust.

Takeaway

Advancing food safety is possible. It requires a multifaceted approach that leverages technology, simplified data exchange, and collaboration. Environmental sensors can provide critical real-time data, EPCIS standardizes this data across supply chains, NFSDX facilitates national coordination, and AI augments human expertise.

By integrating these elements, the food industry can enhance its ability to prevent and respond to food safety issues effectively. This collective effort not only protects public health, but also builds a foundation of trust and sustainability that benefits all stakeholders in the food supply chain.

Something has to change, and the tools are available to help make that change.

Leo Lowy is the Director of Sensor Product Management for Zebra Technologies.