Health Department: No Known Illnesses From Mouse Poison Sprayed At Ann Arbor Grocery Stores
UPDATE 5/5 2:50 PM: Man Accused Of Spraying Toxins At Ann Arbor Grocery Stores Charged With Poisoning
ANN ARBOR (WWJ) - The Washtenaw County Health Department has been fielding calls from people who shopped at Ann Arbor grocery stores where the FBI says a man has admitted to spraying produce and food bars with mouse poison.
The department's Kristen Schweighoefer said there's no evidence so far that anyone has gotten sick, but there is a lot of concern in the community.
"Given the popularity of these grocery stores, it's not surprising that a number of people have eaten foods, especially produce, from those grocery stores," she told WWJ's Sandra McNeill. "What we're doing is trying to determine if their symptoms are consistent with the mouse poison and hand sanitizer, things like that."
The FBI says a man, now in custody, sprayed a mixture of an alcohol-based hand-sanitizer, water and Tomcat mouse poison — contaminating produce and other food items at three Ann Arbor grocery stores in the last two weeks.
The FBI's Jill Washburn said, while they're still deciding whether he should face federal or local charges, there has been no time yet set for a hearing in the case.
"At this point we're examining what our options are," Washburn said. "...And part of that hinges on the fact that we're still collecting evidence and doing our investigation, so depending on what turns up there."
Confirmed stores are Whole Foods Market, 990 W. Eisenhower Parkway; Meijer, 3145 Ann Arbor-Saline Road; and Plum Market; 375 North Maple Road.
Washburn said they're looking into additional locations that may have been involved.
The FBI said the following stores may also have been targeted:
Busch's
2240 S Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI
Cupcake Station
116 E Liberty
Ann Arbor, MI
Family Fare
2026 North Saginaw
Midland, MI
Kroger
3838 Richfield Road
Flint, MI
Meijer, #108
7300 Eastman Ave
Midland, MI
Meijer, #64
3145 Ann Arbor-Saline
Ann Arbor, MI
Meijer, #213
9515 Birch Run Rd
Birch Run, MI
Millers Mini Mart
3001 Bay City Rd
Midland, MI
Plum Market
375 North Maple
Ann Arbor, MI
Target
2000 Waters Road
Ann Arbor, MI
Tsai Grocery
3115 Oak Valley Drive
Ann Arbor, MI
Walmart
910 Joe Mann Blvd
Midland, MI
Walmart
7000 E Michigan Ave
Saline, MI
Whole Foods
990 W Eisenhower Pkwy
Ann Arbor, MI
Whole Foods
3135 Washtenaw Ave
Ann Arbor, MI
There is no word on a motive for the bizarre crime.
Anyone who may have eaten salad bar or hot food items from any of these stores is urged to watch for signs of illness.
Those with health concerns regarding the contamination can contact their healthcare provider or call Michigan Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
