Surge in E. coli food contamination recalls prompts aggressive action

As a result of the increasing numbers of food recalls this year involving food contaminated with E. coli, the U.S. Agriculture Department's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) says it will expand tests and recall infected meat more rapidly.

The FSIS says the number of E. coli recalls has already reached 15 this year compared to the 5 cases in 2005.

The FSIS has apparently taken aggressive action against E. coli by increasing the number of tests on ground beef by more than 75% in July and are planning a new follow-up testing program for federally inspected beef plants that had previously tested positive for E. coli.

The Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Richard Raymond says the lessons learned from a number of recalls, including the recent Topps recall, emphasized the need for even more to be done to strengthen policies and programs.

Topps Meat, the largest manufacturer of frozen hamburgers in the U.S., went out of business early this month after the fifth-largest meat or poultry recall in U.S. history.

The company was decimated by the recall of 21.7 million pounds of beef which caused 30 cases of E. coli-related illness; no deaths were reported.

E. coli 0157:H7 can cause debilitating diarrhea and dehydration.

The FSIS has told the U.S. beef industry that as from November, all beef plants must ensure they are effectively controlling E. coli during slaughter and processing and to expect more tests of domestic and imported ground beef parts used to make raw ground beef.

Plants which handle a larger volume of beef will be tested more frequently and the government will also implement outreach and training sessions for small and very small raw beef processors.

Federal regulations will also require countries exporting beef to the U.S. to conduct the same or equivalent tests on their meat products.

The FSIS says one key will be strengthening communications with public health partners, industry and consumer representatives and internally with inspection program personnel.

These efforts include will include working with the Department of Health and Human Services', the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); working with small plants; working with stakeholders and working with public health partners.