Over the past few decades, foodborne outbreaks have demonstrated an urgent need to strengthen the food safety system and elevate the importance of food traceability within the food science profession. The Food Traceability Rule, a foundational component of FSMA that was finalized in November 2022, will require covered entities to maintain key data elements (KDEs) for specific points in the supply chain (Critical Tracking Events or CTEs). These requirements will facilitate more efficient and rapid traceback during outbreak investigations and potentially shorten the duration of an outbreak and prevent additional illnesses. This session will provide an overview of the final rule requirements and present case studies to detail how FSMA 204 records would have been helpful to better protect public health in past outbreaks. Speaker: Angela Fields, MPH