According to The Charlotte Observer, the USDA is
stamping a new warning label on beef starting this week.
stamping a new warning label on beef starting this week.
The new label informs consumers that
the beef is mechanically tenderized. But what does that mean, exactly?
the beef is mechanically tenderized. But what does that mean, exactly?
Mechanical tenderizing means running
meat through a machine that pierces and breaks down the muscle fibers with
needles and blades to make the meat easier to chew.
meat through a machine that pierces and breaks down the muscle fibers with
needles and blades to make the meat easier to chew.
This process also increases the
risk of contamination that can make you sick. Pathogens such as E. coli and
salmonella can be passed from one piece of meat to the next. Additionally, the
bacteria can be pushed further inside the meat, meaning it has to be cooked to
a higher internal temperature to ensure the pathogens are killed.
risk of contamination that can make you sick. Pathogens such as E. coli and
salmonella can be passed from one piece of meat to the next. Additionally, the
bacteria can be pushed further inside the meat, meaning it has to be cooked to
a higher internal temperature to ensure the pathogens are killed.
Since 2000, the CDC has traced six
outbreaks of foodborne illness to mechanically tenderized beef products
prepared in restaurants and consumers’ homes.
outbreaks of foodborne illness to mechanically tenderized beef products
prepared in restaurants and consumers’ homes.
In 2009, 21 people in 16 states
were infected with the most common strain of dangerous E. coli. Nine had to be
hospitalized, and one victim developed a fatal kidney disease. USDA food safety
officials connected the illnesses to blade-tenderized steaks from National
Steak and Poultry, and the company recalled 248,000 pounds of beef products.
were infected with the most common strain of dangerous E. coli. Nine had to be
hospitalized, and one victim developed a fatal kidney disease. USDA food safety
officials connected the illnesses to blade-tenderized steaks from National
Steak and Poultry, and the company recalled 248,000 pounds of beef products.
According to Patricia Buck,
co-founder and executive director of the Center for Foodborne Illness Research
& Prevention, a nonprofit advocacy group, “We need to improve how we tell
consumers and the food service workers about the particular risks that would be
involved in cooking it so that they can reduce the risk of illness.
co-founder and executive director of the Center for Foodborne Illness Research
& Prevention, a nonprofit advocacy group, “We need to improve how we tell
consumers and the food service workers about the particular risks that would be
involved in cooking it so that they can reduce the risk of illness.
Find the possibility of contracting
E. coli frightening? Take a moment and think about how frightening the
conditions on a factory farm are for the animals.
E. coli frightening? Take a moment and think about how frightening the
conditions on a factory farm are for the animals.
Protect your health and reduce
animal suffering by switching to a compassionate plant-based diet. Visit ChooseVeg.com for more information.
animal suffering by switching to a compassionate plant-based diet. Visit ChooseVeg.com for more information.
