Cottage Cheese Dodges New Food Traceability Record Requirements
Published Date: 2/20/2026
Notice
Summary
Starting February 20, 2026, certain cottage cheese made under the Grade “A” Pasteurized Milk rules won’t have to follow extra food tracking record rules. This change helps cottage cheese makers by easing paperwork without risking safety. If you make, process, or sell these cottage cheeses, this means less hassle and no new costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Cottage Cheese Makers Exempted From Traceability
Starting February 20, 2026, cottage cheese that is IMS listed Grade "A" under the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) is exempted from the Food Traceability Rule's additional traceability record requirements. If you make, process, pack, or hold these IMS listed Grade "A" cottage cheeses, you will no longer have to follow the extra recordkeeping requirements of that rule, reducing paperwork and administrative burden.
Two-Year Record Requirement for Registered Firms
Even with the exemption, persons who are required to register with FDA under section 415 for IMS listed Grade "A" cottage cheese must keep records identifying the immediate previous source and immediate subsequent recipient in accordance with 21 CFR 1.337 and 1.345. Those records must be maintained for 2 years.
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