Source:  Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 12/30/09

As 2009 comes to a close, there is no letup in the calls from politicians, consumer advocates, food safety lawyers and major media outlets for USDA and the food industry to step up their game when it comes to food safety.

Mechanically tenderized beef

National Steak and Poultry's Christmas Eve recall of 248,000 pounds of mechanically tenderized beef products on E. coli O157:H7 concerns launched a debate this week on the safety of these products. A Washington Post article today plays up that aspect of the recall, pointing to a letter consumer advocates sent to USDA in June expressing concern about mechanically tenderized meat.

The Post quoted Jerry Mande, USDA's deputy undersecretary for food safety, as saying USDA agrees that the public needs better information about the risks of mechanically tenderized beef, and the agency is considering labeling and education efforts.

Earlier this week, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) called for labels identifying mechanically tenderized beef and pork products, a move the American Meat Institute said is not necessary.

Food safety lawyer Fred Pritzker issued a news release this week calling for National Steak and Poultry to pay medical bills and lost wages incurred by victims of illness associated with the recall. So far, 21 people have been sickened and nine hospitalized in 16 states by E. coli 0157:H7 and tests are ongoing to confirm whether each is related to the recalled beef.

Pritzker also joined the chorus of those calling for labeling rules specific to tenderized meat.

Ground beef and school lunch

A series of articles by the New York Times in October put the spotlight on the already hot-button issue of E. coli O157:H7 in ground beef. The articles put USDA and the meat industry on the defensive and launched calls from Congress for stronger action by both.

The debate has not been lost on food safety lawyers such as Bill Marler, who addresses these issues daily in his blog and has been quoted widely by major media outlets on the subject.

This month USA Today has put its attention on the school lunch program and possible deficiencies in its food safety practices. In its latest article on the subject, published today, it quotes consumer advocates and food safety experts calling on USDA to use its clout as a big meat buyer to raise the bar on food safety standards.

Two weeks ago, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) asked USDA to implement stricter pathogen testing on ground beef served in school lunches.

Amidst all the food safety swirl, politicians and consumer advocates continue to ask a question they have been asking for a year: when will USDA name an undersecretary for food safety?

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