NCBA Files E. coli Comments

Washington, D.C. (December 10, 2002) – The National Cattlemen's Beef Association is urging government to recognize the need for continuing research and the important role invention technologies play in reducing the incidence of E. coli contamination. 

In comments submitted to the USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) on E. coli O157:H7 Contamination of Beef Products, NCBA says, “FSIS needs to have a clear, systematic approach to allow for testing of new technologies under normal operating conditions in the plant. FSIS needs a streamlined review process with the FDA to get these technologies approved, validated, and implemented.”

Since 1993, NCBA has invested $16 million in checkoff dollars on research into new interventions at pre- and post-harvest to further reduce the presence of E. coli, and significant progress has been made.  As research continues to identify new technologies, NCBA says fast approvals by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and FSIS are needed in order to test these interventions in the plant and then implement them across the industry. 

According to NCBA, “Multiple interventions at all points in the process will be critical as we work toward further control and reduction of the pathogen.  No one sector can do this alone.  All sectors of the industry must work together with government and consumers. There must be a unified approach, utilizing the best available science, to control and reduce the incidence of E. coli O157:H7.” 

NCBA continues to coordinate a coalition of organizations across the beef chain to join together with government in a partnership fostering science-based problem solving, and enhancing consumer education.

Changing FSIS policy requires plants producing raw beef products to reassess their Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans and implement the necessary Critical Control Point (CCP) steps to adequately address the pathogen.  Large plants were required to have their reassessment of their HACCP plans completed, or provide documentation on why they did not need to reassess by Dec. 6.  Inspectors start collecting data to check reassessment outcomes on Dec. 23. 

NCBA says, “beef safety is a top priority for NCBA and the beef industry.  We are committed to working with the entire beef chain and the state and federal governments to further decrease the incidence of this pathogen.”

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