Source:  Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 12/29/09

Blade-tenderized steaks are comparable in safety to those that have not been mechanically tenderized and do not need special labeling, according to the American Meat Institute.

On Monday, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) called for special warning labels in reaction to last week's National Steak and Poultry recall of blade-tenderized beef products linked to E. coli O157:H7 illnesses in six states.

All steaks in retail stores, whether blade-tenderized or not, must bear safe handling labels instructing consumers how to cook and handle them to ensure they are safe when served, AMI noted.

"Because blade-tenderized steaks have been found to be comparable in safety, we don't believe that special labeling declaring the mechanical tenderization process will provide meaningful or actionable information to consumers," said AMI Executive Vice President James Hodges in a statement.

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