The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) are advising consumers to be aware that beef from the Grostic Cattle Co., 6875 McClements Road, Brighton, may contain Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). This consumption advisory only applies to beef sold by Grostic Cattle Co. and does not apply to any other beef or products.
Customers either purchased this product directly from the farm or may have purchased it at the Hartland Farmers Market or the meat trailer located in the parking lot of the Rural King in Hartland.
The product was sold to some Great Start Readiness and Head Start programs in the Livingston County schools. The schools have been notified and stopped using the beef.
Beef samples taken from the farm’s freezer and analyzed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) indicate that PFOS was present in the beef tissue.
A statement posted on the Grostic Cattle Co. website reads: “(We) are surprised to find ourselves and our beloved farm in the middle of a PFAS contamination issue. Our family farm has been serving the State of Michigan for 100 years. It is because of that commitment that we intend to cooperate with all city, state, county, and federal agencies to determine who is responsible for this unfortunate situation.”
Preventing PFOS exposure is important because having prolonged exposure to PFOS may be a public health risk.
PFOS is one of a group of related manmade chemicals known as perfluorinated alkylated substances (PFAS). This group of chemicals is commonly used in a wide range of industrial processes and is found in many consumer products. Information on PFAs and your health is available online.
If you have health related questions or concerns from consuming this beef, you can contact MDHHS by calling (800) 648-6942 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Customers should contact the Grostic Cattle Co. with questions. The State of Michigan is working with the farmer to reimburse customers who have purchased this beef.
Customers with questions about product packaging can contact MDARD at (800) 292-3939 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For information about Michigan’s PFAS response, visit Michigan.gov/pfasresponse.
