Confusion about N-60 Testing

11/16/2009

James Marsden

The Meatingplace.com
www.meatingplace.com/MembersOnly/blog/BlogDetail.aspx?topicID=5107&BlogID=11
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In a recent letter to the Inspector General's Office at USDA, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn) asked for an investigation of the scientific merits and potential shortcomings of N-60 testing, the "protocol used by meat processors and USDA to verify ground beef is free from E. coli O157:H7".

In the letter, she states that "To protect the public health, verification testing must be robust and ensure that adulterated product is not sold to the American consumers". She notes in the letter that the Fairbank Farms, the company linked to the recent E. coli O157:H7 outbreak and major ground beef recall employs a test and hold policy and tests finished ground beef every 10-20 minutes and that these procedures which are likely more frequent than the industry average failed to prevent contamination. She goes on to specifically ask about statistical validity, procedures for sample collection and analysis and application of N-60 test results.

For the complete blog post, please go to http://www.meatingplace.com/MembersOnly/blog/BlogDetail.aspx?topicID=5107&BlogID=11

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