How does the Reportable Food Registry Work?

After a primary report is filed, responsible parties may be requested by FDA to notify their immediate suppliers and their immediate recipients of the product. These notifications can result in "subsequent reports" from connected facilities that will help the FDA coordinate recalls when necessary.

The subsequent reports serve another important function in helping the FDA understand the distribution of foods through the supply chain from grower to processor to distributor, while also allowing trends to be identified. The FDA can then share this data to improve responsiveness across the food industry.