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Rule updates

Food Code updates for restaurants

What changed in the FDA Food Code and FDA's retail food guidance, what it means for your restaurant and what we changed in Patrono. We check the sources every morning.

Last checked .

Updates, newest first

FDA proposes not to enforce the Food Traceability Rule for some smaller restaurants.

What it says
Draft guidance. If FDA finalizes it, the rule would not be enforced for restaurants with average annual food sales over $250,000 and up to $1 million. FDA holds a public meeting on November 6, 2026.
For your restaurant
It is a draft. Nothing changes until FDA finalizes it.
In Patrono
Nothing changes yet. We update this entry when FDA decides.

FDA source: draft traceability guidance

FDA asks states to adopt the 2026 Food Code.

What it says
FDA held a call with state agencies to support adoption of the 2026 edition.
For your restaurant
Adoption is up to your state or county. Ask your health department which edition it enforces.
In Patrono
Nothing to change.

FDA source: Food Code page

FDA releases the 2026 Food Code.

What it says
New for restaurants: a written employee illness policy (§2-501.11), double gloving in some cases (§3-304.15) and a new way to cool food 2 inches deep or less (§3-501.15). Also new: a 75°F minimum for some chemical sanitizers and an exception to the jewelry rule for a medically necessary device.
For your restaurant
Once your state adopts the 2026 edition, have a written illness policy your staff know. Ask your health department which edition it enforces.
In Patrono
We built Patrono's US food safety logs for this edition and published an employee illness policy template.

FDA source: 2026 Food Code release

FDA publishes the Supplement to the 2022 Food Code.

What it says
FDA's 2024 Supplement added disinfection rules, food defense awareness and when a food safety management system is required.
For your restaurant
These rules are part of the 2026 Food Code too.
In Patrono
Patrono for US restaurants started after this.

FDA source: 2022 Supplement release

FDA releases the 2022 Food Code.

What it says
The previous full edition.
For your restaurant
Some states still enforce this edition or an older one.
In Patrono
Patrono for US restaurants started after this.

FDA source: 2022 Food Code

Coming up

  • December 16, 2026 to January 15, 2027: the Conference for Food Protection takes proposals for the next Food Code changes.
  • April 19 to 23, 2027: Conference for Food Protection meeting in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Source: Conference for Food Protection meetings

How we check

  • FDA Food Code pages and the 2026 Food Code file: every day
  • FDA Human Foods Program updates: every day
  • FDA's report on which edition each state uses: every year, when it comes out
  • Conference for Food Protection, where Food Code changes start: every two years

A full Food Code edition comes every four years. Most days nothing changes, and the log gets an entry only when something does.

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