New information on ‘Mystery Note’ investigation
EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU) — There is new information Tuesday in an ongoing I-Team investigation into so-called “mystery notes” being found in sealed food products and at state parks in Pennsylvania.
The cryptic messages have raised lots of questions and concerns from people from across northeastern and central Pennsylvania.
The I-Team has confirmed that federal investigators are hot on the trail of the sources of these notes and what the words and symbols on those notes might mean, if anything.
Joe Miller found a cryptic note inside a box of cereal he bought in the Hazleton area in late December.
Since our initial report, the I-Team has been contacted by people from all over Pennsylvania with similar stories.
A map shows just some of the areas where similar notes were found in all types of food and other products purchased from large and small stores.
They were also found pinned to trees in state parks.
The notes contain symbols as well as words that appear to reference conspiracy theories.
28/22 News I-Team Reporter Andy Mehalshick talked with Miller this week to get his take on what he thinks about who is behind this and their motivation.
“I tend to think it’s some kind of group maybe. I don’t know if it’s like political,” Miller explained.
Below is an e-mail sent to Congressman Dan Meuser’s office from the FDA:
Hi Matthew,
Thank you for following up with FDA Office of Legislation on behalf of Congressman Meuser’s constituents regarding the paper notes found in food packaging. We appreciate you alerting us to this matter. We provide the updates below.
Over the past four years, FDA has received more than 20 complaints regarding several different types of food products containing the same or very similar non-threatening cryptic/conspiracy-type notes found inside their containers (in non-food contact portions), all with retail points of purchase based in areas around Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (PA). These complaints did not report an illness or injury from the products or no product contamination was discovered.
FDA has investigated the matter and determined, based on the product/packaging process and various plant locations, that these localized incidents are more suited for complaint referrals to the jurisdiction of several PA State and/or local agencies. For these reasons, FDA has been providing these agencies with these reports for their evaluation and possible follow-up.
When FDA receives these complaints, they are documented and the consumer is advised to contact the retailer and product manufacturer, and then the complaint is referred to the appropriate PA State/local agency.
FDA recommends reaching out to Pennsylvania’s Consumer Complaint Coordinator at 877-689-8073 (toll-free) or electronically through the Safety Reporting Portal for additional follow-up.
Please let us know if we can further assist.
Sincerely,
Erika
Erika Poitevien
Congressional Affairs Specialist
Office of Legislation
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
For these reasons, the FDA has been providing these agencies with these reports for their evaluation and possible follow-up.
So what do these notes mean, if anything?
Congressman Matt Cartwright’s office made the following statement on the investigation:
“So far, there have been no reports of people getting sick from these notes, but we don’t want to take any chances and we want to find out who is doing this. My office is working with the Food and Drug Administration, which continues to look into the situation and has been providing updates. The FDA recommends returning food items to the point-of-purchase and to report any incidents to Pennsylvania’s Consumer Complaint Coordinator at 877-689-8073 (toll-free) or online at www.safetyreporting.hhs.gov . My office will also assist with filing complaints at 570-341-1050.”
Rep. Dan Meuser (R) 9th District
The I-Team has been working with computer engineer and programmer Spencer Rappaport from Kingston who has been trying to decipher the words and symbols on the notes.
“From other individuals, I talked to that work in the field we’ve been collaborated..There are links to some websites that we’re trying to track down but other agencies have stepped in to do it,” Rappaport said.
The agencies that Rappaport is talking about, based on his research, include the FBI and the FDA.
An FBI spokesperson tells 28/22 News they do not confirm or deny the existence of any investigation.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
