July 2007

FSIS announced today that the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection will hold public meetings to discuss issues related to how data is handled and public health-based inspection.

This spring, millions of pounds of ground beef and other meat products were recalled due to E. coli contamination.  In several instances, the recalled meat

Researchers at the University of Minnesota and the University of Nebraska have found that from June through September up to 10 percent to 20 percent of all cattle may test positive for the microbe, which is harmless to cows. In winter, the number of E.coli-positive animals declines to less than 5 percent.

Dr. Robert

USDA announced today that Custom Pack, a Nebraska firm, is recalling ground beef distributed in Nebraska and buffalo distributed in Colorado. The recall was instituted after the CDC and Nebraska health officials identified at least one E. coli illness associated with the products.

The ground beef products were produced between June 1 and June 13

Several reports indicate that 7 people who became ill with E. coli infections earlier this summer were infected after eating contaminated ground beef.

All seven patients, including an 8-year-old North Carolina girl who was hospitalized after her kidneys shut down, are recovering, Dr. Humayun J. Chaudhry, the Suffolk County health commissioner, said Tuesday.

Chaudhry stressed

Seven people in Suffolk County were sickened in recent weeks after eating undercooked ground beef contaminated with E. coli bacteria, county health officials said Monday.

In one case, an 8-year-old North Carolina girl was hospitalized for about two weeks when her kidneys shut down, said Dr. Patricia Dillon, director of communicable diseases for Suffolk’s health

In August 2002, I wrote an Op-ed for the Denver Post entitled “Put me out of business – please.” That summer, the now infamous ConAgra case, started with a few sick kids in Colorado and quickly spread coast-to-coast, eventually triggering the recall of over 19,000,000 pounds of ground beef tainted with E. coli O157:H7. I

The California Department of Food and Agriculture today announced that members of the California Leafy Greens Handler Marketing Agreement can begin using a service mark on July 23. The service mark certifies membership in the LGMA program, and "indicates a handler’s commitment to a set of Good Agricultural Practices audited by the LGMA."

In a