The USDA-FSIS issued a press release today entitled "FSIS Takes Aggressive Actions To Combat E. Coli O157:H7." This confirms that the USDA-FSIS has not been taking aggressive action to combat E. coli O157:H7. In a recent article in The New York Times, it was brought to light that FSIS inspectors were at the Topps Meat Corporation plant (the one responsible for almost 22 million pounds of E. coli-contaminated hamburgers) for one to two hours a day and never cited Topps for unsafe practices. At least 40 people became ill because of this lack of aggression on the part of the FSIS. It is time the FSIS got aggressive.
Below is the USDA-FSIS press release:
FSIS Takes Aggressive Actions To Combat E. Coli O157:H7
WASHINGTON, Oct. 23, 2007 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) today announced new, ongoing and upcoming actions to protect public health against the risk of E. coli O157:H7, including expanded testing and more rapid recalls. [E. coli Lawyer: Why wasn't this done years ago?] FSIS also provided an update on stepped-up efforts initiated in the spring and summer of 2007.
"We want the American consumer to know that FSIS has taken a number of aggressive actions to respond to a recent increase in E. coli O157:H7 recalls and illnesses associated with this pathogen and we are further expanding these efforts," said Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Richard A. Raymond.
In June 2007, FSIS identified an increased number of E. coli O157:H7 positive tests in beef, as well as a larger number of recalls and illnesses caused by this pathogen than in recent years. [E. coli Lawyer: Recalls of about 28 million pounds of ground beef and dozens of confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7.] Immediately, the agency took a number of steps. For example, FSIS increased the number of tests of ground beef for E. coli O157:H7 by more than 75 percent in July and began planning for a new follow-up testing program for federally inspected beef plants that had positive tests for E. coli O157:H7. Additionally, FSIS accelerated implementation of initiatives scheduled for spring 2008 in response to concerns about increased positives of E. coli O157:H7. FSIS accelerated its plans to review suppliers and processors based on a new checklist, once inspection program personnel complete specialized training, which begins next week.
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