Feds arrest man for spraying produce in Michigan grocery stores with mouse poison

The FBI has arrested a man accused of contaminating food at several grocery stores in Michigan recently with a liquid mixture that contained mouse poison.

An agent with the FBI’s Detroit office told reporters Tuesday that authorities apprehended an individual, who has not yet been identified, after receiving tips following the release of grocery store surveillance footage that appeared to show the suspect spraying a mysterious mixture on produce in Ann Arbor-area supermarkets.

“The suspect has admitted to using a potentially hazardous material to contaminate food in several Ann Arbor-area grocery stores,” special agent-in-charge David Gelios told The Detroit News.

The mixture, Mr. Gelios added, was likely a combination of hand sanitizer, water and Tomcat mice poison. Combined, those chemical form an anti-coagulant similar to the kind found in anti-clogging medicines, Ann Arbor News reported.

According to the FBI, the individual in custody admitted to spraying the mixture on produce sold inside three stores within the past two weeks — an Whole Foods Market, a Meijer store and Plum Market, all in Ann Arbor. The bureau’s own investigation, however, indicated that as many as 14 other across Washtenaw County were targeted as of late.

Officials with the Washtenaw County and Michigan Departments of Health said Wednesday that they doubt anyone who consumed the tainted produce will become ill, Ann Arbor News reported.

“We’re not aware at this point of any illnesses associated with the incident,” said Susan Cerniglia, Washtenaw County Public Health Department spokeswoman.

The director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said in a statement that individuals worried about possibly becoming sick should throw away any potentially contaminated produce.

“Out of an abundance of caution and to protect public health and food safety, I 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,” Jamie Clover Adams, the department’s director, said in a statement. “Although most of these types of foods may have already been eaten or disposed of, some may still be in refrigerators or freezers.”

FBI spokesperson Jill Washburn told Michigan Live that the individual in custody had not been charged as of Wednesday and that the matter remains under investigation.