The 1993 outbreak of E. coli 0157: H7 was a watershed event for the beef industry that initiated enormous efforts towards reduction, and potential elimination, of this organism from beef products. Today large processors employ significant, post harvest mechanical intervention technologies, such as hide on carcass wash systems, pre-evisceration washes and organic acid sprays, final wash systems, and thermal treatment systems. This is in addition to continuous employee training and monitoring, rigorousHazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) systems, and regulatory oversight by the USDA, Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS). Analogous to milk pasteurization in the early 20th century, the beef industry will require significant technology breakthroughs to eliminate E. coli 0157:H7. Vaccine technologies for food safety are one of the potential pre-harvest technologies being explored.
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