December 24, 2007

USDA fails to trace source of beef contamination

USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service has been unable to identify the origin of Salmonella bacteria in ground beef that has made 38 people ill.

The fresh ground beef was believed to have been sold between Sept. 19 and Nov. 5 at Safeway supermarkets in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada and New Mexico.

However, the USDA and its federal and state partners were unable to identify "specific establishments, lots and products" that caused the contamination.

The failure to trace the bacteria is worrisome, as the particular strain is resistant to several antibiotic drugs.

A series of beef contamination incidents this year has raised doubts on the general safety of the product,

This year 30 million pounds of ground beef have been recalled in 20 separate incidents, all due the presence of E. coli, another potentially deadly bacterium, according to the Washington Post.

The USDA preaches proper cooking and handling to kill the bacteria.