FBI Says Man Put Mouse Poison on Food Carts

Updated at 10:05 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, MI – The FBI said Tuesday that a man suspected of contaminating food at open food bars at several Ann Arbor restaurants has been apprehended and is in custody.

David P. Gelios, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Detroit Division, said in a statement that tips from the public directly led to the apprehension of the individual, who “admitted to using a potentially hazardous material to contaminate food in several Ann Arbor area grocery stores.”

A joint investigation with the Ann Arbor Police Department indicated that the individual, who wasn’t named, sprayed a liquid mixture of hand cleaner, water and Tomcat commercial mouse poison on produce at three grocery stores, all in Ann Arbor:

• Whole Foods Market, 990 W. Eisenhower Parkway;
• Meijer, 3145 Ann Arbor – Saline Road; and
• Plum Market, 375 North Maple Road.

Gelios said the suspect admitted to spraying the mixture at the three stores within the past two weeks. He visited several other grocery stores in the Ann Arbor area in the last few months, and the investigation is ongoing in order to determine if any other stores were victimized, Geios said.

Investigators are currently coordinating with State of Michigan and Washtenaw County Health Officials to determine the extent of any contamination and the threat to the public.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Michigan Department of Agriculture, and the Washtenaw County Health Department are leading the public health response to the incident.

Michigan public health officials don’t anticipate any adverse health effects among individuals who may have ingested the potentially contaminated products, but Jamie Clover Adams, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, advised consumers to dispose of any foods they may have purchased from the affected stores salad bars, olive bars and ready-to-eat hot and cold food areas from mid-March and the end of April.

“Although most of these types of foods may have already been eaten or disposed of, some may still be in refrigerators or freezers,” Adams said in a statement, adding the advisory was issued “out of an abundance of caution.”

The FBI investigation has indicated that food bars in some other stores may have been contaminated. They include:

• Busch's, 2240 S Main St., Ann Arbor’
• Cupcake Station, 116 E Liberty, Ann Arbor;
• Family Fare, 2026 North Saginaw; Midland;
• Kroger, 3838 Richfield Road; Flint;
• Meijer No. 108, 7300 Eastman Ave., Midland;
• Meijer No. 213, 9515 Birch Run Road,, Birch Run;
• Miller’s Mini Mart, 3001 Bay City Road, Midland;
• Target, 2000 Waters Road, Ann Arbor;
• Tsai Grocery, 3115 Oak Valley Drive, Ann Arbor;
• Walmart, 910 Joe Mann Blvd, Midland’
• Walmart, 7000 E Michigan Ave., Saline; and
• Whole Foods, 3135 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor.

“While the risk for adverse health effects appears to be low, more investigation is being done to determine what level of exposure may have occurred,” Dr. Eden Wells, chief medical executive for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, said in a statement.

Those with health concern should contact their health-care provider or Michigan Poison Control at (800) 222-1222.

Food industry employees and consumers are reminded to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activities and to remember, “If you see something, say something.” Any suspicious activities should be immediately reported to local law enforcement.

Examples of things to watch for include employees or strangers who:

• Spray unknown substances in a store store;
• Enter or exit stores operation through the wrong doors;
• Hang around display cases, exposed food displays (e.g., produce or salad bars) or cold/hot food displays;
• Loiter in aisles; or
• Leave suspicious materials in stores.

Images via FBI – Detroit Division