E. Coli - It's What's for Dinner!

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Study: Half of cattle may have E. coli

 

WASHINGTON - Up to half the cattle in the nation's feedlots - far more than

previously thought - are infected with deadly bacteria, the government said

Tuesday. Researchers using new testing methods found E. coli O157:H7 present

in rates varying from 1% in the winter months to as much as 50% in the summer.

Previously, government scientists had thought the infection rate to be no more

than about 5%. Cattle are exposed to the bacteria from manure in feedlots. The

study concludes that chances of E. coli getting into ground beef could be

reduced by testing cattle hides and carcasses before the meat is processed.

Testing now is done after the beef is ground.