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Police: Suspect Admits To Spraying Mouse Poison On Produce At Michigan Whole Foods, Other Stores

ANN ARBOR (WWJ) -A suspect has been arrested in connection with contaminating food at several grocery stores in the Ann Arbor and surrounding areas.

Police say the suspect has admitted to spraying exposed food at salad bars and produce sections

whole foods3
(credit: FBI)

The Michigan departments of Agriculture and Rural Development and Health and Human Services are working with the FBI and local law enforcement in Ann Arbor on the investigation.

Affected are at least three grocery stores in the greater Ann Arbor area – Whole Foods, Meijer, Inc. and Plum Market (a complete list below) – at least twice in the last month.

Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Whole Foods spokesperson Allison Phelps confirmed that it happened at the chain's Ann Arbor store on Eisenhower Parkway.

She told the Ann Arbor News an employee witnessed a man pouring liquid on items at the food bars and alerted a manager.

The store closed all salad and hot food bars as a precaution and tossed out any related food. The areas were sanitized and restocked before it was reopened. No injuries or illnesses have been reported in connection with the incident.

The stores involved have been contacted and additional samples have been collected by law enforcement for further testing.

" (We) encourage consumers to dispose of any foods purchased from salad bars, olive bars and ready-to-eat hot and cold food areas from these stores between mid-March and the end of April," said Jamie Clover Adams, MDARD director.

Based on FBI investigation, there is the potential that other stores in Michigan may also have been targeted. These stores include:

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

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