Recall Modernization in 2026: ARRC Meets with FDA and USDA

On January 6, 2026, the co-chairs of the steering committee met separately with leadership from the FDA and the USDA to discuss the Alliance’s progress and explore opportunities for collaboration on improving recalls across the supply chain.

Both meetings reinforced what we know to be true: modernizing recalls is a shared priority, and there is strong alignment between ARRC’s work and federal efforts.

At the FDA

We met at the request of Kyle Diamantas, Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, although he was unable to attend due to a last minute schedule change. The meeting was instead led by Donald Prater, Principal Deputy Director for Human Foods , with other senior leaders in attendance. They expressed clear interest in our work and affirmed the relevance of the workgroup focus areas: supply chain process, standardized data, and modernized simulation. The FDA emphasized the complexity of today’s supply chains, the need for shared data language, and the importance of practicing recall execution as a standard business function.

The agency shared updates on several initiatives in line with their stated 2026 priorities – including classification timelines, consumer notification strategies, and inter-agency data coordination. There was mutual interest in reconnecting within the next few months to identify concrete areas of alignment and collaboration.

At the USDA

The meeting with Barry Rhodes, Director FSIS Office of Field Operations, Recall Manager and Technical Analysis Division, and other representatives from the FSIS Office of Field Operations offered an opportunity to reconnect with USDA leadership following past engagement in the Alliance’s early stages. We reviewed Alliance progress and shared how the model has evolved.

USDA leaders described their pain points with recall execution—timeliness, communication, transparency, and accurate data—and agreed with the value of a coordinated Recall Ready Community model. They encouraged ARRC to engage with key trade associations across the meat and poultry sectors to help support broader industry adoption.

What’s Next

Both agencies expressed interest in continued dialogue, and both emphasized the importance of aligning ARRC’s work with real industry needs. That’s exactly where we’re headed as we shift from building the model to piloting it, sharing it, and helping companies implement it.

To stay updated on our progress or to learn how to get involved, visit www.recallreadycommunities.org.