The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Friday announced recipients of the 2021-2022 Food Safety Education Fund (FSEF) grants for food safety training for the food industry and education and outreach for consumers. The FSEF is a 12-month competitive grant program, now following the state’s fiscal calendar year from October 1-September 30 each year.
“These grants are integral for helping train the food and agriculture industry to maintain the safety, nutritional value, and quality of food throughout the food chain,” said MDARD Director Gary McDowell. “Education provided to consumers through these grants helps assure an 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 FSEF grant program puts funds into the hands of those who have direct contact with restaurant and retail grocery store workers who handle food, and with consumers. 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 licensing fees paid by Michigan food establishments. 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.
MDARD received a total of 11 grant proposals (10 met grant proposal criteria), and requesting funds totaled $391,834. Of the 11 proposals, MDARD awarded seven projects totaling $213,739, with $150,739 directed toward Consumer Food Safety Education, and $63,000 toward food service establishment employees and agents of the director who enforce Michigan’s food regulations. The 2021-2022 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) ($5,000.00)
- 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) ($31,000.00)
- Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association (multi-media food safety education campaign for consumers, industry, and regulators – includes matching funds) ($67,750.00)
- Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association (resources and training for food safety videos in native languages – includes matching funds) ($22,000.00)
- Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association (resources and training for educating families and youth – includes matching funds) ($28,000.00)
- Michigan Farmers Market Association (statewide consumer food safety education outreach) ($54,989.00)
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 MichiganFoodSafety.com or Michigan.gov/FoodSafety. For more information, contact the MDARD Food and Dairy Division at 800-292-3939.