Welcome IFMA The Food Away from Home Association Members

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Member Access to Starfish — At No Cost

The fastest path to FSMA 204 compliance and real ROI from traceability.

No new systems required.

What You Get

  • Access the IFMA Traceability Platform, powered by Starfish, to connect with all your trading partners and exchange FSMA 204 Key Data Elements (KDEs) securely and efficiently

  • Connect your existing systems — ERP, WMS, EDI, or spreadsheets — without disruption. The platform translates and shares your product movement and transformation data in the required formats (GS1, EPCIS, or customer-specific).

  • Leverage existing integrations across leading traceability, compliance, and retailer systems. Most major solution providers are already connected, reducing time and cost to comply.

  • Monitor the flow of traceability data in real time, track completeness of FSMA 204 KDEs, and generate reports (electronic sortable spreadsheets) for internal audits or FDA compliance verification.

  • Receive dedicated onboarding guidance and access to IFMA’s traceability resources to ensure your team can quickly achieve compliance and maintain ongoing readiness.

Sign Up

FAQs

  • The IFMA Traceability Platform is a member benefit provided by the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA) in partnership with Starfish Technology. It enables food manufacturers to meet FSMA 204 traceability requirements by connecting their existing systems to trading partners for data exchange and reporting.

  • The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), specifically Section 204 – the Food Traceability Rule, requires companies that manufacture, process, pack, or hold certain foods to maintain and share key tracking data as products move through the supply chain. The rule, enforced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is designed to improve food safety by making it faster and easier to trace the source of contaminated products and remove them from the market.

    The IFMA Traceability Platform helps manufacturers comply with FSMA 204 by enabling the secure exchange of Key Data Elements (KDEs) and Critical Tracking Events (CTEs) with distributors, retailers, and customers.

  • The platform provides traceability integrations and compliance reporting, allowing you to:

    • Connect your ERP, WMS, or EDI systems.

    • Exchange FSMA 204 Key Data Elements (KDEs) with trading partners.

    • Generate compliance and completeness reports for audits and customers.

  • No. The IFMA Traceability Platform works with what you already use. It connects your existing systems and automatically translates data into the correct format for each partner.

  • Most IFMA members can begin exchanging traceability data within a few weeks, depending on their system setup and partner readiness.

  • The IFMA Traceability Platform supports the full range of global traceability and data-exchange standards used across the food industry, ensuring compatibility with FDA FSMA 204 and alignment with major retailer and distributor programs.

    Supported standards include:

    • GS1 Standards – including GTIN, GLN, and standardized Key Data Elements (KDEs) for product identification and event capture.

    • EPCIS 1.0 and EPCIS 2.0 – for event-based traceability data sharing and regulatory reporting, compliant with FSMA 204 and GS1 US guidance.

    • EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) – for order, shipment, and receipt data (e.g., ASN, invoice, and PO transactions) supporting end-to-end visibility.

    • GDST (Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability) Standards – for interoperability with seafood traceability systems using the GDST 1.2 protocol and EPCIS-based data exchange.

    • JSON, CSV, and XML Formats – to integrate with legacy and proprietary systems not yet supporting full GS1 or EPCIS frameworks.

    These standards ensure that IFMA members can connect to any trading partner—regardless of which systems or traceability solutions they use—while maintaining regulatory compliance and future-ready data interoperability.

  • Yes. The platform uses enterprise-grade encryption and item-level access control, ensuring that only authorized trading partners can view the specific data elements that need to be shared with them.

  • Access to the core IFMA Traceability Platform—including traceability integrations, compliance reporting, and onboarding support—is provided at no cost to IFMA members.

    Optional services are available for members who need expanded capabilities, including:

    • Custom Integrations – tailored data connections beyond standard formats.

    • EDI Transaction Services – full-service management of EDI purchase orders, ASNs, and invoices.

    • Advanced Analytics & Insights – supply chain performance, dwell time, and traceability ROI reporting.

    • Multi-standard Compliance Support – guidance and configuration for EUDR, GDST, and retailer-specific requirements.

    These optional services are quoted separately for members who choose to extend beyond the core traceability features.