10/25/07 More actions to combat e coli in meat

Washington Ag October 25, 2007 There were eight recalls of beef in 2006 because of e coli contamination with no human illness. So far this year there have been 15 recalls, eight of them with human illness. And the man in charge of meat safety at the USDA, Dr. Richard Raymond says he didn't go to Washington D.C. to oversee recalls but instead to try and prevent food borne illnesses. And so; Raymond: "We are going through a very comprehensive review of entire inspection and recall procedures at this time. We have emphasized the need for us to do even more to strengthen our policies and programs." The Food Safety and Inspection Service says that will include expanded testing and more rapid recalls. Also USDA had planned on going ahead with more plants coming under a controversial risk-based inspection system that would reduce surveillance in some meat plants with good records. But Dr. Raymond now says; Raymond: "I believe we need to take additional time to strengthen our system and the data that supports before moving forward with risk-based inspection and processing." This winter, FSIS will hold a meeting with its state and local public health partners, FDA, CDC, industry and consumer groups, about how to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of outbreak investigations and recalls. I'm Bob Hoff.