August 28, 2008

LANSING - As part of National Food Safety Education Month, the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) today launched a new alert system to notify consumers when food-related recalls and warnings are issued. Foodborne illnesses are a serious public health threat. Although the exact number of foodborne illness in the United States is unknown, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates as many as 5,000 deaths and 76 million illnesses each year are directly linked to foodborne illnesses.

“Protecting Michigan consumers from foods which may be contaminated with potentially deadly agents or organisms is the department’s primary mission,” said Don Koivisto, MDA director. “Thanks to emerging technologies, we are able to warn consumers almost instantly to avoid or discard recalled food products, ensuring public health is protected and maintaining the viability of the state’s food safety net.”

This new email service is part of a cooperative project by the departments of Agriculture and Information Technology (DIT) in connection with the state’s effort to better inform consumers when a Class I food recall is issued and protect public health.

A Class I food recall is a situation where the food has been deemed unsafe or unfit for human consumption and if consumed may cause serious adverse health consequences or death. The number of Class I food recalls affecting Michigan continues to rise. From Fiscal Year (FY) 06 to FY07, MDA noted a 56 percent increase in the number of Class I food recalls affecting Michigan consumers (FY06= 62 recalls; FY07=97 recalls).

"This is another great example of how we are working with state agencies to utilize technology for the benefit of our citizens across the state," said Ken Theis, MDIT director and CIO for the State of Michigan. "Our strong partnership with the Department of Agriculture has resulted in this potentially life-saving new service that will prevent unneccesary illnesses and help to protect the health of Michigan citizens."

MDA employees enforce Michigan’s comprehensive food safety laws and regulate the food supply at the state’s 17,900 food-processing plants, retail grocery stores, convenience stores, markets, and fair concessions. In partnership with local health departments (LHDs), MDA staff ensures the 31,000 state licensed restaurants are serving safe food to Michigan’s consumers and visitors. Additionally, MDA and LHDs investigate foodborne illness outbreaks and other food emergencies.

National Food Safety Education Month was created by the food industry in 1995 and is widely recognized by federal, state, and local governmental agencies, the food and agriculture industries, and consumer organizations.

To subscribe to the email alert messaging system, visit www.michigan.gov/mdatextalerts. For more information on food safety, visit www.michigan.gov/foodsafety.