Beef Industry Tackles Food Safety Challenges

DALLAS, Tex., Dec. 12, 1997 -- The Beef Industry Food Safety Council met in Dallas on December 11 and 12 to develop industry wide, science-based strategies to solve the problem of E. coli O157:H7 and other foodborne pathogens. The Council's five Working Groups, comprised of beef industry representatives from the packing and processing industries, foodservice and retail channels, producers and the scientific community identified action-based priorities.

"The Council is focused on prevention and has made an industry-wide commitment to the development and implementation of a full-fledged farm to table food safety strategy," said Chuck Schroeder, Chairman of the Council and CEO of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. "The industry has an unprecedented sense of unity and urgency among all segments to achieve the highest standard of safety."

The Council identified new research priorities for management practices and processes used throughout the beef system. It noted the need to cooperatively work with regulatory agencies and Congress to facilitate the use of science-based pathogen interventions to move beef production and processing to an even higher level of safety.

The Council also identified the need to improve the dissemination of information among industry sectors to facilitate adoption of effective technologies and practices. In addition, the Council identified the need for everyone involved in producing and marketing beef to understand their role and responsibility in delivering a safe product to consumers. Some elements of the Council's plan can be implemented quickly while others, such as certain research initiatives will require additional development.

"The Council is targeting problem-solving strategies and will seek to engage the industry and the public in discussion about the implementation of those strategies," said Schroeder.

Initiated in 1898, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association is the marketing organization and trade association for America's one million cattle farmers and ranchers. With offices in Denver, Chicago and Washington, D.C., NCBA is a consumer-focused, producer-directed organization representing the largest segment of the nations food and fiber industry.