3 minute read

Ensuring Customers Get Safe Products

TIM SLAWINSKI MDARD Food and Dairy Division Director

Michigan retail food businesses are presented with several challenges when it comes to ensuring customers purchase safe food products. Two topics we frequently see creating risk for consumers in retail establishments are unapproved food product and adverse events. Taking steps to prepare for, and avoid, these risks can help prevent stores from selling unsafe food products.

Disasters can strike without notice at any time of year. Planning and preparation can help reduce risk and minimize damage and can also help speed up response time and recovery efforts. All these things can affect your business’ bottom line.

Food from unapproved suppliers is another risk that seems to be trending right now. According to the Centers for Disease Control, food from unapproved sources is one of the top causes of foodborne illness. Consequently, all foods sold, served, or used as ingredients must come from “approved” sources. This usually means the supplier is licensed and/or inspected by local, state, or federal regulators.

To help verify the source of foods received, you should have procedures to address the following:

• Before dealing with a vendor for the first time, ask for a current food license or inspection.

• Refuse homemade foods, including cottage foods, for your retail establishment.

• Ask where they make and sell their product or how long they’ve been in business.

• Examine label and package for home-made signs (e.g., homecanning jars, smudged ink, printed on common address labels, missing ingredient list or lot code, etc.).

• Be wary of buying food from social media marketplace or auction sites.

• Make sure suppliers provide an invoice with business name, a list of products delivered, service date, and other similar information; and keep records.

• Question deliveries that occur at odd hours, inconsistently or from non-commercial vehicles.

• If it’s too good to believe, then question it (e.g., bargain prices, health-claims, or other novel claims).

For more information, visit Michigan.gov/mdard/food-dairy or contact your area inspector.

Gov. Whitmer signs PREP Act into law

Gov. Whitmer signed SB 219 into law on July 18 as Public Act 97 of 2023, codifying the Federal PREP Act allowances granting pharmacists independent authority to order and administer vaccines, as well as delegate that administration to pharmacy technicians. The new law also grants the ability to independently order and administer tests for COVID, flu, or a respiratory infection.

Pharmacists must now report all vaccinations administered for all ages to the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR) and let patients know about potential qualification under the Vaccines for Children Program for vaccines administered to patients under the age of 19. The law does not impact existing or future collaborative practice agreements or the services and care provided under those agreements. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who wish to administer vaccines and testing under independent authority must follow board-approved training but may continue to provide those services until rules are finalized.

New Pharmacy Continuing Education effective as of June 26, 2023. A list of the notable changes is below.

The new rules:

• Adds continuing education credit for attending a Board of Pharmacy meeting or subcommittee meeting.

• Limits the continuing education credit to 2 hours each license cycle for presenting an approved continuing education program that is not a part of the licensee’s regular job description.

• Minimizes the continuing education review standards.

• Requires a course related to health care services, pharmacy operations, or the advancement of the licensee’s pharmacy education.

• Clarifies the continuing education requirements, including the requirement for 1 hour of continuing education in pharmacy ethics and pharmacy law.

Scan here to view the full revised Pharmacy Continuing Education Rules.

WIC

Formula Update: ENFAMIL AR

Enfamil AR availability is expected to ebb and flow throughout the remainder of the year. With reported outages of the 12.9 oz size throughout the state, Michigan WIC has temporarily reactivated the 19.5 oz size of Enfamil AR for redemption when the 12.9 oz size is unavailable. WIC families assigned an ENFAMIL AR 12.9 OZ PWD food package can redeem either:

Enfamil AR 12.9 oz (Counts as one can)

UPC: 300870201423

Enfamil AR 19.5 oz (Counts as 1.5 cans)

UPC: 300870201652

Successful redemption of the Enfamil AR in the 19.5 oz can is contingent upon the vendor having downloaded the latest Approved Product List (APL).

To receive the latest version of the APL, you may follow the instructions below based on your store’s point-ofsale (POS) system:

• Integrated POS system: You may update your POS system by contacting your point-of-sale (POS) provider. Michigan Retailers Services may be able to assist.

• FIS-issued stand beside WIC POS device: Your machine should automatically receive the update.

Oct. 31 – Nursery Dealer and Growers Licenses expire

Monthly reminders:

Sales & Use Tax – Monthly & EFT – On or before the 20th day of the following month.

Withholding Tax – Monthly & EFT – On or before the 20th day of the following month.

Retailer’s Prepaid Wireless 911 Surcharge – within 30 days of the close of each month. Receipt of a complete Form 5012 is required regardless of payment method.

Quarterly reminders:

Corporate Income Tax (CIT) Estimated Returns and Payments (Jan. 15, April 15, July 15, Oct. 15)

Sales & Use Tax – Quarterly & EFT – On or before the 20th day of the month following the quarter (Jan. 20, April 20, July 20, Oct. 20)

Withholding Tax – Quarterly – On or before the 20th day of the month following the quarter (Jan. 20, April 20, July 20, Oct. 20)

Unemployment Employer’s Quarterly Wage/Tax Reports (April 25, July 25, Oct. 25, Jan. 25).