On the Food Traceability List

Leafy greens are the most recalled produce in America. Traceability isn't optional.

Romaine lettuce alone has triggered multi-state E. coli outbreaks that sickened hundreds and killed people. The FDA put leafy greens on the Food Traceability List for a reason.

FDA Food Traceability List Status
All fresh leafy greens are on the FDA Food Traceability List. This includes all varieties whether sold whole, as heads, or as components of salad mixes. Full FSMA 204 traceability requirements apply.

Covered varieties

RomaineIcebergSpinachKaleArugulaSpring MixBaby LeafButter LettuceChardChicoryEndiveEscaroleGreen LeafRed LeafPak Choi / Bok ChoySorrelWatercress
Why this commodity is high-risk

The 2018 romaine lettuce E. coli outbreak sickened 210 people across 36 states, hospitalized 96, and killed 5. Traceback took weeks because growing and shipping records were often handwritten and inconsistent. This single outbreak was a primary driver behind FSMA 204. Leafy greens remain the produce category most likely to trigger a recall.

What you need to track

Critical Tracking Events

Events in the supply chain where you must capture traceability data:

1
Growing — where and when the greens were grown
2
Harvesting — when the crop was cut and by whom
3
Cooling — if applicable, first cooling after harvest
4
Initial Packing — first time packed into a container other than a field container
5
Shipping — every time the product changes hands

Key Data Elements

Data you must record at each tracking event:

Growing area location (GPS coordinates or field identifier)
Commodity and variety
Harvest date
Traceability Lot Code (TLC) assigned at initial packing
Quantity and unit of measure
Packer name, address, and phone number
Ship-to location and recipient information
SSCC for each pallet
Reference documents (BOL, PO)

Who's buying leafy greens — and what they expect

Major retailers have their own traceability requirements for leafy greens, often stricter than the FDA's.

Walmart
SSCC-18 and ASN with KDEs required on every shipment. Active enforcement for FTL items.
Kroger
Traceability for ALL foods — leafy greens get the closest scrutiny. Deadline passed.
Costco
2-4 hour mock recall capability required. Leafy greens are a test-and-hold category.
Albertsons
ASN with KDEs for all foods. GAP certification required for all growing operations.
Whole Foods
ASN before arrival, high-risk produce has additional safety measures.
Publix
GTIN, lot code, and dates on every case. Ahead-of-FDA traceability deadlines.
See all 35 retailer traceability guides →

How FieldToFile helps leafy greens growers

Generate PTI-compliant pallet tags for every variety of leafy green — romaine, spinach, spring mix, kale — with proper GS1-128 barcodes and lot codes.

Automatically assign Traceability Lot Codes that link back to the specific field, harvest date, and growing area where the greens were cut.

Track multiple varieties packed in the same facility on the same day without lot code confusion — each variety gets its own TLC.

Partner packing for leafy greens: if you pack spring mix for another grower, their data, their brand, their quota. Your crew just prints.

Export complete recall-ready records in 30 seconds — critical for the commodity most likely to trigger a traceback.

The bottom line

Leafy greens are why FSMA 204 exists. They're the highest-risk, most scrutinized, most recalled produce category in the country. Every major retailer has heightened traceability requirements for leafy greens, and the ability to trace a lot from field to store in hours — not weeks — is what separates growers who keep their shelf space from those who lose it. FieldToFile makes that traceability automatic.

Ship leafy greens with confidence

Your first truckload is on us — up to 56 pallets, fully compliant. No credit card.