Community Action Agency

CSFP/TEFAP Directors, Managers

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently sent information to the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) regarding an automated e-mail notification system for food recalls.

MDE is strongly encouraging all agencies that distribute TEFAP and CSFP commodity foods to sign up for this free e-mail notification and update service regarding food recalls to ensure that all food banks and local agencies are aware of current food safety concerns.

Foodsafety.gov provides subscribers with instant notification on all food recalls and alerts as well as food borne illness outbreaks.

All food bank operators and local service organizations are being asked by the USDA to add the following instructions to its websites to notify the general public of the availability of this free e-mail notification and update service.

Action Needed

Follow the steps below to subscribe for this free e-mail service and receive an instant acknowledgement of your subscription from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS):

  1. Log on to www.recalls.gov.
  2. Click on the Food tab at the top.
  3. Click on Sign Up for Free Recall Updates by E-Mail (in red toward the top of the page).
  4. This will take you to the HHS Services sign-up page, where you will:
    1. Enter your e-mail address and confirm same; and
    2. Check the box titled FoodSafety.gov Recalls & Alerts under the FoodSafety.gov Updates section.