by Amber Goff

Created on: May 08, 2008

There has been a rise in E. Coli cases in the United States since 2007. In fact, that year has set a record in cases in the entire United States history requiring the United States Department of Agriculture to recall more than 33.4 million pounds of beef. A lot of American's began wondering why there was such a rise in cases and why so much beef was being recalled and the answer lies in the feed being provided for cattle.

In December 2007 a study had showed a strong link between a waste product (corn ethanol) with the increased rise of contaminated beef. This had started because of the demand of agricultural needs and the lack of providing these needs. This forced operators and cattlemen to substitute cheaper distilled corn grains for corn to their cattle. This distilled corn grain has been proven to cause liver damage to cattle thus creating the E. Coli in them. The cows are then slaughtered for beef, packaged and shipped all over the country, with this live virus inside of it; the people eat this contaminated beef, not knowing it is contaminated and therefore are hit with E. Coli 0157.

The USDA has suggested giving the cattle an E. Coli vaccine but no such thing has been created for use in cattle. Because of this there is nothing that can be done. Richard Raymond, the undersecretary for food safety (2008), has stated that he will not tell cattlemen to quit feeding their cattle this distilled product and that they can feed their cattle whatever they wish.

As long as the USDA doesn't put their foot down and the pharmaceutical labs do not create an E. Coli vaccine approved for use in cattle, the rise in the virus cases and recalled beef will continue to rise. Really, the only thing that can be done to prevent the virus in humans is to quit buying the beef. If consumers quit buying the contaminated beef the USDA will more than likely be more apt to fixing the problem.

Another solution is to have all beef tested for E. Coli before a case of the virus is recorded with the Department of Health. This will save consumers money and ensure the health and safety of all human beings in the United States. It may be more time consuming for the USDA but it sure will save lawsuits against them once the word spreads that they are refusing to either put their foot down or create an approved vaccine for cattle.

References:
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2 008/1/28/1129/80723

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