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  7. Resources for Human and Animal Food Producers Affected by Flooding
  1. Office of Human and Animal Food Operations

Resources for Human and Animal Food Producers Affected by Flooding

Federal and state resources are available for human and animal food producers who may be harvesting, mixing, storing, or distributing grains and other foods after experiencing a severe or inclement weather event. The FDA reminds producers that crops harvested from flooded fields are often unacceptable for consumption because of contamination. Flood waters, which are different from pooled rainwater, may contain sewage, pathogenic organisms, pesticides, chemical wastes, or other toxic substances.  

Mold growth also is a serious concern for flood impacted crops intended for use in animal food. Some types of mold produce mycotoxins, which is a toxic substance that can cause illness and death when consumed by animals and people.  

Sometimes, crops that have been harvested and then subsequently deemed unsuitable for human use can be salvaged for animal food. The FDA will work with producers to consider requests to recondition an adulterated crop into animal food on a case-by-case basis.  

FDA’s compliance policy guide (CPG 675.200) provides a step-by-step process for reconditioning requests. Those requests should be directed to the following individuals in the relevant FDA field office: 

ORA Emergency Response Coordinators

State(s)/Territories Covered ERC Work Phone Cell Phone Email Address(es)
GA, NC, SC Huggins, Wilbur 404-253-2235 404-626-5586 wilbur.huggins@fda.hhs.gov
oraatlerc@fda.hhs.gov
DC, MD, VA, WV Moore, Valeria 410-779-5464 240-517-2029 valeria.moore@fda.hhs.gov
IL Cooper, Joseph 312-596-4252 312-218-9509 joseph.cooper@fda.hhs.gov
OH, KY Zimmer, Brenda 513-679-2700 x2103 513-305-1949 brenda.zimmer@fda.hhs.gov
TX, AR, OK Hunt, Travis 214-253-5329 740-381-3622 travis.hunt@fda.hhs.gov
AZ, CO, NM, UT, WY Miller, Holly 303-236-3053 303-503-9106 holly.miller@fda.hhs.gov
MI, IN Turner, Marlon 313-393-8293 240-672-5247 marlon.turner@fda.hhs.gov
ORAHAFE6ERC@fda.hhs.gov
oradetactingerc@fda.hhs.gov
FL Venerio, Nelson 407-475-4729 407-415-8415 nelson.venerio@fda.hhs.gov
KS, IA, NE, MO Dugan, Erin 913-495-5110 913-424-5231 erin.dugan@fda.hhs.gov
orakansituationalawareness@fda.hhs.gov
So. CA, (COOP only-AZ RP) Francisco, Herminio 949-608-3575 949-812-9620 herminio.francisco@fda.hhs.gov
oraloserc@fda.hhs.gov
MN, ND, SD, WI Elassar, Sana 612-758-7156 952-457-1569 sana.elassar@fda.hhs.gov
ORAMINERC@fda.hhs.gov
AL, LA, MS, TN Bertling, Lindsay 615-366-7815 615-438-2100 lindsay.bertling@fda.hhs.gov
oranolerc@fda.hhs.gov
CT, NH, MA, ME, RI, VT Langello, Kimberly 401-528-5500 x108 781-258-3796 kimberly.langello@fda.hhs.gov
NJ Muszynski, William 856-290-4020 732-666-2592 william.muszynski@fda.hhs.gov
NY Vaught, Nicole 718-662-5582 347-510-4579 nicole.vaught@fda.hhs.gov
PA, DE Bradley Benasutti (717) 541-9924 x23 (240) 994-7043 Bradley.Benasutti@fda.hhs.gov
ORAPHIERC@fda.hhs.gov
N. CA, NV, HI, Guam, Am. Samoa, CNMI Yuen, Nicole 209-954-1071 x102 510-455-1331 nicole.yuen@fda.hhs.gov
orahafwest5erc@fda.hhs.gov
N. CA, NV, HI, Guam, Am. Samoa, CNMI Galvez, Steven 425-302-0460 510-512-0364 steven.galvez@fda.hhs.gov
orahafwest5erc@fda.hhs.gov
AK, ID, MT, OR, WA Volkman, Kelsey 425-302-0347 425-236-0694 kelsey.volkman@fda.hhs.gov
oraseaerc@fda.hhs.gov
PR & USVI Aponte, Marianela 787-729-8501 787-969-6477 marianela.aponte@fda.hhs.gov
oraatlerc@fda.hhs.gov

For more information, see Crops Harvested from Flooded Fields Intended for Animal Food: Questions and Answers. 

We encourage growers to work with state regulators and local FDA offices to assess their unique situations and to take into consideration all possible types and routes of contamination from flood waters in determining whether a particular crop is adulterated.

Each state’s Department of Agriculture may have state-specific requirements regarding any attempt to clean, process, test, and sell/use crops in animal food. The FDA will continue working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), state partners, trade, and stakeholder associations to answer broader questions that may arise about using flood-affected crops for animal food. 

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