The Associated Press reports that small meat processing plants feel the pressure from USDA inspections far more than their larger corporate counterparts, as John Munsell of Montana Quality Foods and Tom Osterloh of Galligan Wholesale Meat Company learned.
Both plants tested positive for E. coli O157:H7 from processing meat products originally provided by ConAgra in 2002. However, both processors feel that the USDA failed to follow up on their claims to check the large meatpacker that sent the meat to them.
Months later, ConAgra was involved in one of the nation’s largest beef recalls – 18 million pounds. Tainted meat from ConAgra was linked to dozens of infected people.
In 2003, the Office of Inspector General faulted ConAgra and the Federal Food Safety and Inspection Service, saying the agency took no “decisive” action.
The ConAgra outbreak was a major tipping point for the meat industry and its commitment to dealing with E. coli, said Bill Marler, an attorney who’s handled e. coli cases and represented many who ate tainted beef in 2002. Steven Cohen, an FSIS spokesman, said the agency has enacted numerous changes since the outbreak, including improved training for inspectors and requiring greater accountability from supervisors. Plants that do their own testing are no longer exempt from agency testing, and FSIS is moving toward increased testing at higher-volume facilities.
Fred Angulo, a veterinarian with the CDC, believes industry is doing something right. He cites data showing a 42 percent drop in E. coli incidence between 1996 and 2004, including what he called remarkable declines in the past two years.
Other E. coli Lawsuits
2 dead with 22 injured in E. coli Hamburger Outbreak in Montana
E. coli Outbreak in Washington and California linked to Walnuts
Seattle PCC Market E. coli outbreak linked to Guacamole
11 with E. coli linked to Raw Milk LLC Cheese
Miguel’s Cocina 4S Ranch E. coli Outbreak sickens 35
Huntley High School students hit with E. coli
Marler Clark retained by a dozen families to investigate Fueling Brain E. coli Outbreak
E. coli Outbreak linked to University of Arkansas
E. coli Lawsuit filed in Washington State against Torero's Mexican Restaurant
Aldi Falafels sicken 24 with E. coli in 6 States
HelloFresh linked to E. coli Outbreak in Six States
Wendy's E. coli Outbreak Grows to 109 Victims, 13 with Acute Kidney Failure
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E. coli Food Poisoning
What is E. coli and how does it cause food poisoning? Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a highly studied, common species of bacteria that belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae, so...
E. coli O157:H7
E. coli O157:H7 is a foodborne pathogen that causes food poisoning. E. coli O157:H7 is the most commonly identified and the most notorious Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) serotype in...
Non-O157 STEC
Non-O157 Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli can also cause food poisoning. E. coli O157:H7 may be the most notorious serotype of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), but there are at least...
Sources of E. coli
Where do E. coli O157:H7 and non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) come from? The primary reservoirs, or ultimate sources, of E. coli O157:H7 and non-O157 STEC in nature are...
Transmission of and Infection with E. coli
While many dairy cattle-associated foodborne disease outbreaks are linked to raw milk and other raw dairy products (e.g., cheeses, butter, ice cream), dairy cattle still represent a source of contamination...
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