Via The Ethicurean: E. coli Loophole Cited in Recalls

Think about this the next time you purchase your beef in the supermarket:

One federal inspector calls it the “E. coli loophole.” Another says, “Nobody would buy it if they knew.”

The officials are referring to the little-discussed fact that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has deemed it acceptable for meat companies to cook and sell meat on which E. coli, a bacterium that can sicken and even kill humans, is found during processing.
….
The agency allows companies to put this E. coli-positive meat in a special category — “cook only.”

I am Jack’s Complete Lack of Surprise. I am also Jack’s Total Disgust. This reminds me of the book Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser and the quote “there’s literally shit in the meat.”

USDA regularly tests for E. coli in slaughtering plants, but only on meat that packing companies have already deemed free of E. coli, the agency inspectors say. USDA officials say they do not track how much meat is put into “cook only” categories, but interviews with a half-dozen inspectors suggested it is a significant amount.

Ahh yes, the USDA, the group in charge of protecting consumer health and ensuring food standards. I love that they test for E.coli on product that the packers have determined to be E.coli-free. That feeling you have in your gut right now is just the knowledge that your government is working hard to protect you from unscrupulous companies.

The article goes on to talk about school lunch programs buying this beef. I guess it would be outlandish to expect the meat packers to slow the line down so there are fewer worker mistakes that cause fecal contamination. It would also be outlandish to expect them to not process obviously diseased cows. I mean, that might cause a hit to their profits and we have the economy to think about. Be a good consumer and forget about your health for the good of the economy!

Email this story to a friend; it’s time to spread the word. This kind of crap (pun definitely intended) is one reason that I purchase grass-fed beef from a local farmer. The way I see it, I either pay the extra prices for good, grass-fed, uncontaminated beef or I don’t eat beef.

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Tags: beef, children, E.coli, Fast Food Nation, grass-fed, red meat, school lunch