Food Safety
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Safety
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • White Papers
  • PRODUCTS
  • TOPICS
    • Contamination Control
    • Food Types
    • Management
    • Process Control
    • Regulatory
    • Sanitation
    • Supply Chain
    • Testing and Analysis
  • PODCAST
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Food Safety Five Newsreel
    • eBooks
    • FSM Distinguished Service Award
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Videos
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • MORE
    • ENEWSLETTER >
      • Archive Issues
      • Subscribe to eNews
    • Store
    • Sponsor Insights
  • WEBINARS
  • FOOD SAFETY SUMMIT
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Editorial Advisory Board
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
NewsFood TypeRegulatorySupply ChainProduceFDAFSMAGuidelinesTraceability/Recall

FDA Releases Guidance for Sprout Operations Under Produce Safety Rule, States FSMA 204 Inspections Will Begin 2027

By Food Safety Magazine Editorial Team
sprouts growing with FDA logo overlay

Image credit: Liza Golyarchuk via Unsplash

September 28, 2023

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced two updates for Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) rules, including the finalization of a draft guidance for sprout operations under the Produce Safety Rule (PSR). FDA also updated the FAQ for its Food Traceability Final Rule to include information on inspections and FDA’s Product Tracing System.

Sprout Operations Under PSR

FDA released two guidance documents that outline recommendations for how sprout operations may comply with PSR. The first guidance updates and finalizes the following sections of a January 2017 draft guidance, titled, Compliance with and Recommendations for Implementation of the Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption for Sprout Operations:

  • Cleaning and Sanitizing
  • Agricultural Water in Sprout Operations
  • Seeds for Sprouting
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Recordkeeping.

The second guidance re-issues certain sections of the January 2017 draft guidance and issues one new section for sprout operations as a revised draft guidance. The following updated and new sections in the revised draft guidance are available for comment:

  • Equipment, Tools, and Buildings
  • Sampling and Testing of Spent Sprout Irrigation Water (or In-Process Sprouts)
  • Personnel Qualifications, Training, and Hygienic Practices.

The chosen sections have been revised to align with information in other relevant guidance documents, incorporate additional information and comments received by the agency, and better consolidate and organize information within the guidance. The revised draft guidance is available for comment. FDA is particularly interested in receiving information about testing of spent sprout irrigation water or in-process sprouts that sprout operations are currently conducting for non-O157:H7 pathogenic Escherichia coli, including test kit names (as applicable).

Comments can be submitted at any time electronically at Regulations.gov or by mail to: Dockets Management Staff (HFA-305), FDA, 5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. All written comments should be identified with the docket number FDA-2017-D-0175 and with the title of the guidance document. Comments on the revised draft guidance should be submitted to the Federal Register within 180 days of publication to ensure they are considered during the development of the final guidance.

Food Traceability FAQ Updates

FDA also recently updated its Food Traceability FAQ to provide additional information about FDA’s Product Tracing System and to explain how the agency intends to conduct initial inspections beginning in 2027. The agency also answered questions that provide clarity about which foods are covered under the rule and which ones are not.

The Food Traceability Final Rule was published in November 2022, establishing traceability recordkeeping requirements for persons who manufacture, process, pack, or hold foods included on the Food Traceability List (FTL). The rule was designed to facilitate faster identification and rapid removal of potentially contaminated food from the market, resulting in fewer foodborne illnesses. The agency established January 20, 2026 as the compliance date, and does not intend to begin routine inspections until 2027.

KEYWORDS: FDA Food Traceability Final Rule Produce Safety Rule sprouts

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Fsm purple logo 200x200

The Food Safety Magazine editorial team comprises Bailee Henderson, Digital Editor ✉; Adrienne Blume, M.A., Editorial Director; and Stacy Atchison, Publisher.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • people holding baby chicks

    Serovar Differences Matter: Utility of Deep Serotyping in Broiler Production and Processing

    This article discusses the significance of Salmonella in...
    Meat/Poultry
    By: Nikki Shariat Ph.D.
  • woman washing hands

    Building a Culture of Hygiene in the Food Processing Plant

    Everyone entering a food processing facility needs to...
    Management
    By: Richard F. Stier, M.S.
  • graphical representation of earth over dirt

    Climate Change and Emerging Risks to Food Safety: Building Climate Resilience

    This article examines the multifaceted threats to food...
    Risk Assessment
    By: Maria Cristina Tirado Ph.D., D.V.M. and Shamini Albert Raj M.A.
Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Subscribe to eNewsletter
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Website Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Food Safety Magazine audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Food Safety Magazine or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Two men standing in a produce storage facility having a discussion.
    Sponsored byOrkin Commercial

    Staying Compliant With FSMA

  • Deli Salads
    Sponsored byCorbion

    How Food Safety is Becoming the Ultimate Differentiator in Refrigerated and Prepared Foods

Popular Stories

FoodSafetyMattersFinal-900x550-(002).jpg

Ep. 195. Dr. Christopher Daubert: The Value of a Food Science Education

Students returning their lunch trays in a cafeteria

California Bill Would Remove Ultra-Processed Foods from School Lunches

Two men standing in a produce storage facility having a discussion.

Staying Compliant With FSMA

Events

June 26, 2025

How to Design and Conduct Challenge Studies for Safer Products and Longer Shelf Life

Live: June 26, 2025 at 2:00 pm EDT: During this webinar, attendees will learn how to conduct challenge studies for microbial spoilage and pathogen growth, including the common challenges encountered, laboratory selection, and use of predictive models.

May 11, 2026

The Food Safety Summit

Stay informed on the latest food safety trends, innovations, emerging challenges, and expert analysis. Leave the Summit with actionable insights ready to drive measurable improvements in your organization. Do not miss this opportunity to learn from experts about contamination control, food safety culture, regulations, sanitation, supply chain traceability, and so much more.

View All

Products

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

See More Products
Environmental Monitoring Excellence eBook

Related Articles

  • FSS news generic image

    Inspections of small businesses under the FSMA Intentional Adulteration Rule to begin March 2021

    See More
  • cargo boxes with fda logo

    FDA Releases New Resources for Food Traceability Final Rule Compliance

    See More
  • produce

    FDA and USDA Schedule Webinars on FSMA Produce Safety Rule for Latin American Produce Exporters

    See More

Events

View AllSubmit An Event
  • April 15, 2025

    FSMA 204: How to Achieve Traceability and Transparency Along Your Supply Chain

    On Demand: In this webinar, representatives from the fresh produce and foodservice distribution sectors, as well as a traceability-focused industry organization, will discuss the steps companies should take now to ensure they are prepared for FSMA 204 compliance.   
View AllSubmit An Event
×

Never miss the latest news and trends driving the food safety industry

eNewsletter | Website | eMagazine

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing