DES MOINES – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Kansas City District Office has presented the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s (IDALS’s) Feed and Fertilizer Bureau with the 2011 Partnership/Collaboration Award. Iowa was nominated for the support they provided the FDA’s Kansas City office during the outbreak of salmonella enteritidis in August and September of 2010.
Gerald Bromley, Director of the Investigations Branch for the FDA’s Kansas City office, nominated Iowa for the award. In the nomination he cited the works of officials in Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska in supporting the FDA as approximately 85 percent of the federal agency’s resources in the region were being spent responding to the salmonella outbreak.
“Our Department has a great working relationship with FDA’s Kansas City office and I appreciate their efforts to recognize that partnership,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey.
Specifically, the Iowa and other state agencies on the FDA’s behalf conducted 35 recall audit checks, inspected 10 animal feed manufactures, and collected/analyzed feed product samples.
In closing, the nomination said, “These remarkable deeds were achieved during times of State budget crises and clearly illustrate the highly motivated and dedicated characteristics expected in all those who are tasked to protecting the American public health.”
The IDALS employees cited in the award nomination were:
Kevin Klommhaus, Feed and Fertilizer Bureau Chief, from Diagonal
John Whipple, Division Director, from Indianola
Jeff Eichenberger, Inspector, from New Hampton
Brad Hanna, Inspector, from Sioux City
Gerald VandeVorde, Inspector, from Hazelton
Lloyd Krutzfeldt, Inspector, from Dysart
David Sterling, Inspector, from Batavia
Neal Vaughn, Inspector, from Anamosa
Kevin H. Wiemers, Inspector, from Burt
Ed McCreary, Inspector, from Mt. Ayr
Jeff Verzal, Inspector, from Westfield
Barry Wills, Inspector, from Woodward
*** Reporters and Editors: A photo of FDA officials presenting the award to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is available upon request
