10/31/07 Safer Beef

American beef is the safest in the world and we need to keep it that way. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll be back right after this to discuss that statement. United States senator Bryon Dorgan makes the statement American beef is the safest in the world when talking about importing foreign beef into the U.S. Another senator, Charles Schumer believes the USDA needs to improve meat safety inspections to keep our beef clean and safe. Senator Schumer will push for legislation to have the USDA accomplish this goal. The reason for this increased inspection is the recent nationwide recalls by two frozen hamburger companies. Schumer's proposed legislation would allow the USDA to temporarily shut down meat processing plants that repeatedly fail inspections for E. coli bacteria. The USDA would also have the authority to trace and recall contaminated food. Currently the USDA can only recommend a recall to the company in question. The two recalls involved 21.7 million pounds from one company and another 840,000 pounds from the second operation. I don't know if the E. coli was possibly in foreign beef imported into the U.S. to be mixed with our domestic beef or if the E. coli was caused by unclean U.S. processing facilities. I'm not in favor of increased government restrictions, but I think this legislation is needed so we can say American beef is the safest in the world. I'm Jeff Keane. Western Livestock Report 10/17/07