Need for Regulation: eColi Outbreak in U.S. -- Be Sure to Thoroughly Cook Your Meat!

E. Coli Outbreak Puts Focus On Meat Oversight
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The first known U.S. outbreak linked to a rare strain of E. coli in ground beef is prompting a fresh look at tougher regulations to protect the nation's meat supply. Three people in Maine and New York became ill this summer after eating ground beef traced back to a Cargill plant in Wyalusing, Pa. Cargill Meat Solutions, a subsidiary of Minneapolis-based Cargill Inc., recalled about 8,500 pounds of ground beef on Saturday, and regulators warned consumers to throw out frozen meat purchased at BJ's Wholesale Clubs in eight eastern states. The ground beef had a use-by-or-freeze-by date of July 1.

The New York Times first reported the USDA interest in federal oversight of other strains of E. coli following the Cargill recall. The federal government currently requires meat plants to test for the most virulent strain of E. coli, O157:H7, which causes an estimated 70,000 illnesses a year. They don't have to test for six other less common strains of E. coli, including the O26 version that sickened those involved the Cargill recall.

Consumers can avoid getting infected from tainted meat by cooking it thoroughly and using a meat thermometer to make sure it reaches an internal temperature of at least 160 degrees.

Note: Cargill is a Global Company which has been subject to numerous criticisms over a number of topics including environmental issues, contamination and humans rights abuses. Further, as a private company, Cargill is not required to release the same amount of information as a publicly-traded company and, as a business practice, keeps a relatively low profile, creating suspicion.

Eggs for Breakfast? Why Beck's Sponsors, the Koch Brothers, are WRONG! We Need Regulations!

Boston.com Reports: FDA says 2 egg farms violated standards
WASHINGTON — Food and Drug Administration investigators have found rodents, seeping manure, and even maggots at the Iowa egg farms believed to be responsible for as many as 1,500 cases of salmonella poisoning. FDA officials released their initial observations of the investigations at Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms yesterday. The two farms recalled more than half a billion eggs after salmonella illnesses were linked to their products earlier this month.

The reports show many different possible sources of contamination at both farms, including rodent, bug, and wild bird infestation, uncontained manure, holes in walls, and other problems that could have caused the outbreak. Several positive samples of salmonella have been found at both farms.

The agency released the initial observations as their investigations concluded yesterday. Officials said they still cannot speculate on the cause of the outbreak but said the farms not only violated their own standards but also new egg rules put in place this summer.

Among the observations of the investigators:
■ Live rodents and mice at both farms;
■ Structural damage and holes in many locations at both farms, allowing wildlife access;
■ Escaped chickens tracking manure through the houses;
■ Employees not changing clothing properly when moving from one location to another and not sanitizing equipment properly;
■ Dead and live maggots “too numerous to count’’ on the manure pit floor in one location at Wright County Egg;
■ Manure piled 4 to 8 feet high in five locations at Wright County Egg, pushing open doors that allowed wildlife to enter the laying houses;
■ Nonchicken feathers in a laying house and wild birds flying in and out of two facilities at Wright County Egg;
■ Manure seeping through the foundation to the outside of laying houses in 13 locations at Wright County Egg;
■ Rusted holes in feed bins and birds flying over the feed bins at Wright County Egg.