USDA Bans 6 More Strains of E. coli from Ground Beef

WASHINGTONThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today extended a zero-tolerance policy for E. coli O157:H7  in raw beef products by declaring six additional strains of E. coli, known as non-O157 Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STECs) or The Big Six," as adulterants.

Beginning in March 2012, any raw ground beef, its components, and tenderized steaks that test positive for non-O157:H7 Shiga-toxin producing E.coli strains O26, O103, O45, O111, O121 and O145 will be banned from being sold for public consumption.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified these particular serogroups of non-O157:H7 Shiga-toxin producing E.coli, or non-O157 STEC, as those responsible for the greatest numbers of non-O157 STEC illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States.

USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will begin testing for the six serogroups of STEC and enforcing the new policy on March 5, 2012. The new rule will first be published in the Federal Register, opening a 60-day comment period.

Today's announcement does exactly that by targeting and eliminating contaminated products from the market. Too often, we are caught reacting to a problem instead of preventing it. This new policy will help stop problems before they start," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.