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| Raw Ground Beef - E. coli Testing Results |
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On October 17, 1994, FSIS began a microbiological testing program to detect Escherichia coli O157:H7 in
raw ground beef. The objective of the testing program is to detect E. coli O157:H7, and to stimulate
industry action to reduce the presence of the pathogen in raw ground beef. Since the initiation of the
FSIS testing program, some grinders have instituted their own programs and routinely test their ground
beef products or raw materials used in ground beef products for E. coli O157:H7. Others have begun
requiring suppliers of raw boneless beef to test for and certify that the organism is not detectable
in the product. Over time, FSIS has taken steps to improve the public health effectiveness of this
testing program by detection of lower numbers of this pathogen through increased sample size and
adoption of new more sensitive methods (see footnote following Table 2).
There are approximately 1,700 establishments producing ground beef under FSIS inspection, and
approximately 100,000 retail outlets grind beef on a regular basis. Each month, inspected plants
and retail outlets are selected randomly for sample collection. Also, imported ground beef products
collected by FSIS Import Inspection personnel and ground beef products produced at state inspected
establishments and collected by comparable state program personnel are analyzed. FSIS based its
sampling plan on information from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sentinel sites
that collect data on foodborne disease, historic data on outbreaks of foodborne illness, and
information developed by the Office of Public Health Science (OPHS). On February 29, 2000,
FSIS held a public meeting to discuss the Agency's policy regarding E. coli O157:H7 and new
information concerning the pathogen and its relation to human health. Based on new data concerning
E. coli O157:H7, the FSIS E. coli O157:H7 Risk Assessment, and information from the February 29,
2000, public meeting, FSIS is continuing to evaluate its E. coli O157:H7 policy and testing program.
View tables containing 1994 through 2003 data, or simply the most recent positives.
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