November 04, 2011

Missouri State Milk Board, Departments Recognized by FDA for Collaboration on Dairy Investigation

Efforts by Missouri departments of Agriculture and Health reduced public's risk of food borne illness

The Missouri State Milk Board, together with the Missouri Department of Agriculture and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, received national recognition, Gov. Jay Nixon announced today. The three received the Leveraging/Collaboration Award from the federal Food and Drug Administration for their partnership and collaboration in investigating contaminated cheese produced in the state and sold nationwide.

"These departments and our State Milk Board are deserving of this recognition," said Gov. Jay Nixon. "I applaud the efforts of these agencies on the important work that is done each day to ensure our food supply is safe. Their quick action and collaboration with our federal partners exemplifies how our food safety system is supposed to work."

The Leveraging/Collaboration Award recognizes outstanding efforts by individuals and organizations to collaborate in advancing the public health mission of the FDA.

The Missouri State Milk Board and departments of Agriculture and Health and Senior Services were nominated for the award by the FDA Kansas City District office, based in Lenexa, Kansas.

In 2010, when cheese from a California retailer tested positive for traces of Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus, production and distribution at a Missouri plant were halted and nearly 69,000 pounds of product were recalled. Throughout the situation, the State Milk Board and the state departments of Agriculture and Health and Senior Services showed an emphasis on collaboration, including initiating a joint inspection and investigation process with FDA.

For more information on the Missouri Department of Agriculture, visit mda.mo.gov. For more information on the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, visit health.mo.gov.