On the Food Traceability List

Green onions are on the FTL. Bulb onions aren't — but retailers don't care about the distinction.

Fresh green onions (scallions) require full FSMA 204 traceability. Bulb onions have triggered major recalls too, and retailers are requiring traceability across the board.

FDA Food Traceability List Status
Fresh green onions (scallions, spring onions) are on the FDA Food Traceability List. Bulb onions (yellow, white, red) are NOT on the FTL — but major retailers require traceability for all foods regardless of FTL status. Full FSMA 204 requirements apply to green onion operations.

Covered varieties

Green Onions / Scallions (on FTL)Spring Onions (on FTL)Yellow Onions (not on FTL)White Onions (not on FTL)Red Onions (not on FTL)Sweet Onions (not on FTL)
Why this commodity is high-risk

Green onions were linked to a 2003 Hepatitis A outbreak at a Chi-Chi's restaurant that killed 3 people and sickened over 600 — one of the deadliest restaurant-linked outbreaks in US history. Bulb onions triggered a massive 2021 Salmonella outbreak that sickened nearly 900 people across 38 states, leading to a recall of onions from Chihuahua, Mexico. Both categories carry significant outbreak history.

What you need to track

Critical Tracking Events

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

1
Growing — field location for green onion and bulb onion crops
2
Harvesting — when onions were pulled or cut
3
Initial Packing — first packing into bunches, bags, or boxes
4
Shipping — every transfer in the supply chain

Key Data Elements

Data you must record at each tracking event:

Growing area location (GPS or field identifier)
Commodity and variety (green onion vs. bulb type)
Harvest date
Traceability Lot Code (TLC) — required for green onions, recommended for bulb
Quantity and unit of measure
Packer name, address, and phone number
Ship-to location and recipient
SSCC for each pallet
Reference documents (BOL, PO)

Who's buying onions & green onions — and what they expect

Major retailers have their own traceability requirements for onions & green onions, often stricter than the FDA's.

Walmart
Requiring traceability for ALL foods. Both green onions and bulb onions are covered under expanded scope.
Kroger
Traceability for all foods. Onions of any type need EDI 856 ASN data.
Albertsons
ASN with KDEs for all foods. No distinction between FTL and non-FTL in their requirements.
Costco
Full lot traceability. The 2021 bulb onion outbreak heightened scrutiny for this category.
H-E-B
FSMA 204 compliance required for FTL items. Texas is a significant onion-growing region.
See all 35 retailer traceability guides →

How FieldToFile helps onions & green onions growers

Track both green onions (FTL) and bulb onions (non-FTL) in the same system — full traceability for both, compliance-ready for either.

PTI-compliant pallet tags with proper variety codes, lot numbers, and GS1-128 barcodes for every onion type.

Handle the complexity of operations that grow both green and bulb onions — each gets proper lot tracking regardless of FTL status.

Partner packing for onion operations — pack for other growers under their brand and quota.

When a buyer asks for traceback data — whether for green onions or bulb — pull complete records in 30 seconds.

The bottom line

Green onions are on the FTL. Bulb onions aren't — but with nearly 900 people sickened in the 2021 outbreak, retailers aren't making the distinction. If you grow onions, you need traceability for all of them. FieldToFile makes it simple to track both categories with the same tool.

Ship onions & green onions with confidence

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