--- title: Food Safety Attorney William Marler Calls for FSIS to Label Mechanically Tenderized Steaks date: 2010-01-29T20:11:00-08:00 author: admin canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/news_events/food-safety-attorney-william-marler-calls-for-fsis-to-label-mechanically-te" section: News --- [All News](/news_events) / [Press Releases](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/press-releases) / # Food Safety Attorney William Marler Calls for FSIS to Label Mechanically Tenderized Steaks Safe food attorney Bill Marler has called for the USDA’s [Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)](http://www.fsis.usda.gov/ "Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)") to label meats that have undergone mechanical tenderization. The controversial process has been linked to numerous outbreaks of the dangerous pathogen *E. coli* O157:H7, yet there is currently no disclosure required. “Meats that are considered ‘intact’ by the FSIS have different *E. coli* regulations,” explained Marler. “The assumption is that the *E. coli* pathogen, if present, would only be on the outside of the cut, and would be killed by minimal cooking. However if needles or blades drive those bacteria into the center of the meat, only thorough cooking of the steak would make it safe, something few people do. That’s why the FSIS must take the steps laid out by the [Make Our Food Safe Coalition:](http://www.makeourfoodsafe.org/ "Make Our Food Safe Coalition:") • Issue a press release indicating that the current cooking guidelines and temperatures for intact beef products are not safe for all beef products that look intact. \[Specifically, that mechanically tenderized steaks should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees, just like hamburger.\] • Take immediate steps to develop regulation that will require labeling to clearly identify mechanically tenderized, non-intact beef and pork products for all processing facilities, retail purchasers and consumers. • Initiate a FSIS program to assess the effectiveness of public health messaging, so that effective food safety messages can be delivered to all food safety stakeholders.” The most recent *E. coli* outbreak tied to mechanically tenderized steaks is [National Steak and Poultry](http://www.marlerclark.com/case_news/view/national-steak-and-poultry-e.-coli-o157h7-outbreak-nationwide "National Steak and Poultry"), which recalled 248,000 pounds of tenderized meat products on Christmas Eve 2009. To date, the CDC has confirmed 21 people in 16 states infected with the *E. coli* strain linked to the product. Marler Clark has filed an E. coli lawsuit on behalf of a 14-year-old boy hospitalized by his *E. coli* infection from National Steak and Poultry meats. In March 2003, there were six *E. coli* illnesses linked to mechanically tenderized steaks from Stampede Meat. An August 2004 recall of a similar product by Quantum foods was linked to *E. coli* illnesses at Applebee’s in Colorado. Davis Creek Meats and Seafood recalled 130,000 pounds of beef products in May 2007 that were subsequently linked to *E. coli* illnesses, and also in 2007, the[ Fresno Meat Market outbreak](http://www.marlerclark.com/case_news/view/fresno-meat-market-e-coli-outbreak " Fresno Meat Market outbreak") was linked to tenderized, cooked tri-tip purchased at the store. In September 2008, a fundraiser for the volunteer fire department in Forest Ranch, CA was the source of an *E. coli* outbreak that sickened 24 people, including a 6-year-old girl who had to be airlifted to US Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. Health officials pinpointed tenderized tri-tip served at the event. “Studies have shown that the mechanical tenderization process can transfer contamination into the core of the meat,” continued Marler. “However, the FSIS only has to look at the human evidence – the growing list of those sickened by these meats – to realize that change is imperative.” ### Lawsuit updates about foodborne illnesses [Reactive Arthritis Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=reactive-arthritis&year=all) [E. coli Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=e-coli&year=all) [Guillain-Barre Syndrome Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=guillain-barre-syndrome&year=all) [Salmonella Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=salmonella&year=all) [Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=hemolytic-uremic-syndrome&year=all) [Listeria Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=listeria&year=all) [Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=irritable-bowel-syndrome&year=all) [Hepatitis A Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=hepatitis-a&year=all) [Norovirus Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=norovirus&year=all) [Botulism Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=botulism&year=all) [Campylobacter Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=campylobacter&year=all) [Shigella Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=shigella&year=all) [Cyclospora Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=cyclospora&year=all) ### Lawsuits updates by year [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 1998](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=1998) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 1999](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=1999) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2000](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2000) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2001](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2001) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2002](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2002) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2003](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2003) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2004](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2004) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2005](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2005) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2006](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2006) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2007](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2007) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2008](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2008) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2009](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2009) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2010](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2010) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2011](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2011) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2012](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2012) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2013](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2013) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2014](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2014) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2015](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2015) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2016](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2016) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2017](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2017) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2018](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2018) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2019](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2019) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2020](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2020) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2021](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2021) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2022](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2022) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2023](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2023) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2024](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2024) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2025](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2025) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2026](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2026) ##### Get Help #### Affected by an outbreak or recall? 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