October 2004

The Associated Press reports that researchers at Montana State University in Bozeman are looking at whether there is a link between what cattle eat, the strength of their immune systems and a potential to reduce the spread of E. coli bacteria.
A goal of the project, expected to be complete around Thanksgiving, is “pre-harvest intervention” – seeing if problems can be addressed, or even avoided, before the animals reach slaughter, said John Paterson, a beef specialist for the MSU Extension Service.
“We’re trying to do our best to reduce the number of cattle that would shed E. coli,” Paterson said.
The bacteria, supported in the intestines of even healthy animals, can be shed through feces, he said. E. coli can be spread during the slaughter process. Eating contaminated meat not cooked thoroughly can sicken humans.Continue Reading Healthy cattle, safe meat link sought

American City Business Journals Inc. reports that an associate professor of biology at Reed College in Portland has received a $227,500 grant from the National Institute of Health to continue research on E. coli bacteria.
Prof. Jay Mellies has studied the E. coli strain known as Enteropathogenic Escheriachia coli, responsible for an estimated 1 million…

The Monitor-Index Reporter reports that the man who tested positive for E. coli in Randolph County has now tested negative for the bacteria. According to the Randolph County Health Department. Janet Murray, Environmental Health Supervisor for the Department said he was “retested and he and his family are fine.”
From the article:

Murray said because

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The Denver Post has reported on a congressional report issued Wednesday which states that when hazardous food is discovered, neither the U.S. Department of Agriculture nor the Food and Drug Administration issues a deadline the manufacturers must meet for the recall.
Neither agency acts quickly enough to ensure that recall notices reach all parts of the food-distribution chain, especially grocery stores.
“Consumers may be vulnerable to serious illness, hospitalization and even death, in part, because of weaknesses in USDA’s and FDA’s programs for monitoring companies’ recalls of unsafe food,” according to the Government Accountability Office.Continue Reading USDA, FDA taken to task in report

E. coli is a bacteria that normally lives in the intestines of humans and animals, especially cattle. Most strains of this bacteria are harmless. One particular E. coli strain called 0157:H7 can cause severe diarrhea and kidney damage to some people, particularly children under 5 years of age and the elderly. This complication is called…

Chris Cline of the Daily Journal reports that wo-year-old Emilie Allen remains on dialysis in a St. Louis hospital after nearly a month since she was diagnosed with a strain of E. coli 0157:H7. The 2-year-old Bonne Terre girl is believed to have contracted the strain of bacteria on or around Sept. 18.
Emilie’s mother…

Lincoln Journal-Star reports that a Montana meat processor who tried to warn federal officials about contaminated beef from a large meatpacker is suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
John Munsell of Miles City claims he was retaliated against for criticizing the agency’s actions in protecting the beef supply from E. coli contamination.
Munsell is seeking unspecified punitive, economic and general damages from the USDA, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman and Nathaniel Clark, identified in the suit as a district office manager with the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Munsell claims in the lawsuit that the government retaliated against him and that he was required numerous times to rewrite a plan detailing potential hazards and controls “on threat of withdrawal of USDA inspectors” and approval of the company’s beef products.Continue Reading Meat processor critical of USDA sues, alleges retaliation

The Oberly Monitor-Index reports that the Randolph County Health Department has announced that there has been a positive human case of E. coli 0157:H7 within the county, and urges all consumers, food workers, and restaurants to be certain that all ground meats are thoroughly cooked.
Environmental Health Supervisor, Janet Murray reports that “E. coli 0157:H7…

Scott Maben of the Register-Guard has also reported on the dismissed Lane County fair lawsuit.
Each family could have recovered as much as $200,000 from the fair board and the county under a state liability cap for government agencies.
From the article:

Lane County Circuit Judge Lyle Velure dismissed the suit Oct. 5. The case

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The Associated Press reported today that two dozen families have dropped their lawsuit against Lane County and the county fair board. The families filed suit in June 2003, almost a year after 82 people, mostly children, got sick from exposure to the bacteria at the county fair.
The families abandoned the suit because experts could…