5 Key Food Safety Updates and Trends to Expect in 2026

There was seldom a dull moment in the world of food safety in 2025. From major recalls that affected some of the most vulnerable consumers, to scaling back of monitoring programs and mass layoffs at government agencies, the safety of the products on our shelves and in our homes and restaurants was rarely out of the headlines. 

Here’s a look at some of the regulatory changes and trends that should play a big role in food safety, allergen management, recordkeeping, traceability, and labeling demands in 2026. 

SQF Edition 10: What’s New?

One of the world’s top food safety certification programs will get a facelift in 2026 with the release of Safe Quality Food (SQF) Edition 10. 

The updates include new guidelines for change management, documentation and recordkeeping, training and competency, corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), and recall and crisis management protocols, among others.

But the most talked-about update so far is the requirement for a robust and well-documented food safety culture plan that includes procedures and clearly documented records for culture assessment and improvement. The plan must also include performance benchmarks, measurable objectives, and scheduled and documented follow-ups scheduled for every 90 days.

A representative from the Safe Quality Food Institute told Rootwurks this week that the release date of Edition 10 remains undetermined due to an extension until March 2026 of the GFSI benchmarking application timeline. The representative added that once Edition 10 is released, sites will have a minimum six-month transition period before audits begin under the new requirements. 

New Requirements for Voluntary “Product of USA” Labeling

As of January 1st, new guidelines are in effect for companies that want to voluntarily place “Product of the USA” or “Made in the USA” labels on packaging for meat, poultry, and egg products. These guidelines move this distinction from a marketing suggestion to a strictly defined and regulated label. 

In December 2025, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) published an updated version of the guidelines originally published in March 2024. The new guidelines determine the types of labels that must be submitted to the Labeling and Program Delivery Staff (LPDS) for approval.

The new standard requires documentation that:

• Animals must be born, raised, slaughtered, and processed entirely within the United States 
• All FSIS-regulated ingredients used in the product must be from the United States
• All preparation and processing must have occurred in the United States

Continued MAHA Recommendations and Changes 

The swearing in of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the 26th Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) in February 2025 has brought sweeping changes to the country’s food regulatory agencies. It has also seen large-scale layoffs at the FDA, CDC, and USDA as the Secretary has worked to implement the Trump Administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” Initiative.  

In addition, 18 states, including major markets such as Florida and Texas, have received funds from the USDA to make certain unhealthy foods ineligible for purchase with SNAP funds, while the HHS has released new dietary guidelines that could significantly alter consumer demands and industry trends. 

A number of states have also adopted laws to restrict ultra-processed foods in school meals and to require warning labels on products that contain ingredients deemed unsafe. The FDA is also finalizing regulations for front-of-package nutrition labeling, which would result in new, standardized labeling guidelines for packaged consumer goods.

In addition, on January 7th, the HHS and USDA published new dietary guidelines that tout the importance of protein, dairy, and healthy fats. The HHS also called for a “dramatic reduction” in the consumption of highly processed foods and foods that are high in carbohydrates, sugars, sodium, unhealthy fats, and chemical additives. 

FSMA Delayed - But Emphasis on Traceability and Mock Audits Remains 

Under the FSMA 204D guidelines, every U.S. company that manufactures or holds food products on the FDA’s Food Traceability List must meet the recordkeeping requirements of Section 204D of the Food Safety Modernization Act.

This includes keeping records of Key Data Elements and Critical Tracking Events, and the ability to produce these records for the FDA within 24 hours. 

In March 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it is delaying the compliance date by 30 months. By January 1st, companies will have less than two years to implement these traceability requirements. 

Industry experts have encouraged food companies not to wait until the last minute to implement these guidelines. For food companies, 2026 should include a concerted effort to review traceability and recordkeeping procedures and update SOPs to ensure they’re ready when the deadline comes.

Enhanced Focus on Allergen Management

The number one cause of food safety recalls is undeclared allergens, and this is reflected in the emphasis the industry is putting on training for allergen management and risk mitigation. 

In February, the FDA will hold a virtual public meeting to discuss establishing threshold levels below which an allergic reaction is unlikely.  

The FDA stated that the meeting and similar collaborative efforts “will help inform the FDA's next steps, prioritize potential options, and advance our food allergen threshold approaches to benefit public health.”

The “Big 9” food allergens in the U.S. are milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame.

The FDA stated that exposure thresholds could be used for risk assessment, to support petitions for labeling exemptions, and could help shape compliance and enforcement actions for allergen violations. The FDA added that while it has published guidance documents that address how allergen thresholds could be applied, the agency has not established or endorsed any allergen threshold levels. 

But in the absence of FDA-mandated allergen thresholds, some states may follow the lead of California and take their own initiatives. Signed into law by Governor Newsom in October 2025, the Allergen Disclosure for Dining Experiences (ADDE) Act will require the written disclosure of the Big 9 allergens (dairy, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, soybeans, and sesame) food allergen ingredients in restaurants with more than 20 locations. The ADDE goes into effect in July and will be enforced through the California Department of Public Health and local health agencies. 

The law does not require restaurants to provide “may contain” or “shared facility” information. 

Elevate Food Safety in 2026 with Rootwurks 

This year’s regulatory changes will require a greater emphasis on sophisticated digital recordkeeping, traceability, food safety culture, and the ability to perform comprehensive internal audits. To see how the Rootwurks platform can help your company build the food safety culture you need and deploy the digital tools, training, and recordkeeping to master the regulatory and safety landscape, reach out to a member of the Rootwurks team here.