March 17, 2009

LANSING, MI - Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) Director Don Koivisto today announced that the state’s efforts to respond to the nationwide Salmonella outbreak associated with peanut butter and peanut products has cost the state more than $400,000 and is expected to increase. The state does not receive federal reimbursement to recoup expenses incurred for food recall response.

“Our number one priority must be food safety,” said Koivisto. “In an increasingly global economy, maintaining the food safety net is vital to protecting public health and is one of MDA’s core missions.”

From January 11, 2009 to February 21, 2009, MDA spent $423,311 on staff resources, travel, and lab supplies, averaging $55,000 per week. It’s expected that MDA’s peanut butter recall response efforts could top more than $800,000.

“This is one of the most complex and expansive food recalls we have ever encountered,” said Katherine Fedder, Food and Dairy Division Director. “Currently, there are nearly 3,500 products impacted just by the peanut butter recall alone - this doesn’t include the other food product recalls MDA has dealt with in recent months.”

Recalls and recall effectiveness checks require a substantial amount of dedicated resources. Recall efforts include ensuring the impacted product is removed from the marketplace, conducting audit checks of various locations including grocery stores, food banks, convenience stores, and gas stations. Additionally, it includes collecting and testing products for contamination, traveling from each location, and maintaining transparent communication with the public and retailers.

"While most products which have been recalled to date are off the shelves, we are still finding some items in commerce," said Fedder. "Thanks to the diligent efforts of MDA’s Rapid Response Team, we are identifying areas such as vending machines and smaller stores which may have these potentially contaminated products available and removing them from the marketplace."

To date in fiscal 2009, MDA staff have responded to 313 recalls and 274 of those have been directly related to the national peanut butter recall. In all of fiscal 2008, the department responded to 114 recalls and 97 in 2007. This means that the number of recalls MDA has responded to has tripled in the last two years.

The department’s primary responsibility is assuring the safety and wholesomeness of Michigan's food supply from farm to fork. MDA regularly monitors Michigan's food supply for pesticide residues, micro-organisms, and other substances that would compromise the quality and wholesomeness of food.

For more information on food safety or to sign-up for MDA’s free recall alert service, visit us online at www.michigan.gov/food-safety.