Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said Monday that USDA should implement stricter pathogen testing on ground beef served in school lunches, according to a report by USA Today.

Gillibrand's comments follow the newspaper's most recent investigative coverage reporting that testing for ground beef supplied to the National School Lunch Program is less intensive than that required by major fast-food restaurants. 

Gillibrand wrote a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack urging USDA to implement "a strict testing program" for ground beef akin to those used by the likes of Jack in the Box and Costco, the report said.

The senator also said USDA should "terminate contracts with any habitual violators" of the agency's food safety regulations, citing in particularly Fresno, Calif.-based Beef Packers. 

Vilsack earlier pledged an independent review of testing requirements.

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