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October 05, 2022
Over $350,000 awarded for food safety training, education and outreach
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) today announced recipients of the 2022-2023 Food Safety Education Fund (FSEF) grants for food safety training for the food industry and education and outreach for consumers. The FSEF is 12-month competitive grant program, following the state’s fiscal calendar year from October 1-September 30 each year.
“These grants are integral for helping train Michigan’s food and agriculture industry to maintain the safety, nutritional value, and quality of food throughout the food chain,” said MDARD Director Gary McDowell. “The education provided to consumers through these grants helps assure awareness of food safety and the role each of us plays in keeping our food supply safe and wholesome. Both are important in protecting public health and growing Michigan’s food and agriculture economy."
The fund was established under the Michigan Food Law of 2000, as amended, Sec. 4117, and is funded through assessments of $3.00 to $5.00 from each Michigan food establishment license. The grant program is designed to provide food safety training and education to consumers, and training and education to food service establishment employees and agents of the director who enforce Michigan’s food regulations. As part of MDARD’s commitment to ensuring food safety, the 2022 – 2023 grant cycle includes nine grants for food safety education and training.
MDARD received a total of fourteen grant proposals, 12 meeting grant proposal criteria, requesting funds totaling $437,374. Of the 12 proposals received, MDARD awarded nine projects totaling $352,957. Of this total, $206,707 will be directed toward consumer food safety education, and $146,250 toward food service establishment employees and agents of the director who enforce Michigan’s food regulations.
The 2022-2023 Food Safety Education Fund grant recipients are:
• Great Lakes Conference on Food Protection (training and scholarship funds for state and local food safety regulatory staff) $25,000.00
• Michigan Dairy Industry Conference (milk safety training and education for dairy industry and regulatory staff) $5,000.00
• Michigan Environmental Health Association (food protection training for environmental health professionals) $33,000.00
• Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association (multi-media food safety education campaign for consumers, industry, and regulators - includes matching funds) $63,250.00
• Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association (food safety education and training for Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan – includes matching funds) $27,250.00
• Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association (resources and training for educating food service employees on norovirus – includes matching funds) $47,250.00
• Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association (food safety training to food service establishments through access to MSU processed meat training and training on food fermentation – includes matching funds) $33,250
• Michigan Farmers Market Association (statewide consumer food safety education and outreach at Michigan Farmers Markets) $68,957.00
• Midwest Independent Retailers Association (food safety training to food service staff focused in rural and in food desert areas of Michigan) $50,000
Food safety resources for consumers and food industry professionals, including materials developed from Food Safety Education Fund grants in previous years, can be found at www.MichiganFoodSafety.com or www.michigan.gov/foodsafety. For more information, contact MDARD’s Food and Dairy Division at 800-292-3939.
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