Salmonella Outbreak Prompts Ground Beef Concerns

January 29, 2013

Salmonella Outbreak Prompts Ground Beef Concerns

Heads up, moms! Federal health officials report that 16 people in five states have become sick due to salmonella. Eight people have been hospitalized.

Most of the salmonella cases were reported from a restaurant in Denver serving a raw ground beef dish called kibbeh, but there have also been cases in Illinois, Iowa, Arizona, and Wisconsin.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention links the outbreak to last week's recall of ground beef from two Michigan businesses, but the Michigan Department of Public Health says it's not yet clear where the salmonella contamination occurred.

Read the whole story at The Huffington Post>>

Would a food recall like this one change your eating habits?

Image Source: The Huffington Post via AP

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6 Comments

RoseChovan 19 weeks

Correction: The Huffington Post article clearly states that the restaurant that served the raw ground beef dish was in Detroit not in Denver.

HeatherJarvis43043 19 weeks

I absolutely agree that media does sensationalize some food borne illnesses. It is a good reminder to always cook meats to the recommended temperatures as any type of animal can harbor disease. It's unfortunate that the beef industry seems to get the brunt of the media drama. I'm guessing its because of all the meats eaten in the US, beef tends to be the one that is most widely eaten at a temperature less than what's needed to kill pathogens. I think it is interesting that of our meat eating preferences, raw beef is statistically safer than other meats and some unwashed vegetables. One important note, freezing does not kill pathogens. It can arrest their rate of growth but as soon as the meat is thawed, they will again be able to reproduce and infect a consumer. Always handle raw meat (even when frozen!) as if it contains a communicable pathogen -until its cooked to the recommended temperature.

ElizabethDavis24657 19 weeks

It wouldn't change my eating habits because I don't eat RAW BEEF. If you think about it, most these "outbreaks" happen with fruits and vegetables. Stuff happens unfortunately. When you rely on someone else, wether a farmer or a store or a restaurant, for your food, you take a chance.

BrandyProfancik 19 weeks

If you freeze the meat first then it kills any pathogen in it. Also I agree with Sophie and Lori.

SophieFleming55772 19 weeks

Watch the movie "Food, Inc." and you will understand why we are having all these problems.

LoriPetersen 19 weeks

We are beef producers and I get really frustrated with the fact that everytime there is an incident like this the media blows it out of proportion and people get scared off of buying meat. Why do they not go after the restaurants and the poeple handling the food. It is not the beef itself. Here are some facts that people need to know: Salmonellosis is an infection with a bacteria called Salmonella, Salmonella live in the intestinal tracts of animals, including birds. Salmonella are usually transmitted to humans by eating foods contaminated with animal feces. Every year, approximately 40,000 cases of salmonellosis are reported in the United States. Because many milder cases are not diagnosed or reported, the actual number of infections may be thirty or more times greater. Approximately 600 to 700 cases of salmonellosis are reported each year in Minnesota. Transmission Contaminated foods are often of animal origin, such as poultry, pork, beef, poultry, milk, or eggs, but all foods, including vegetables may become contaminated. Many raw foods of animal origin are frequently contaminated, but fortunately, thorough cooking kills Salmonella. Food may also become contaminated by the unwashed hands of an infected food handler, who did not wash his or her hands adequately after using the bathroom. Salmonella may also be found in the feces of some pets, and people can become infected if they do not wash their hands after contact with animals. Reptiles and baby chicks/ducklings are particularly likely to harbor Salmonella. People should always wash their hands immediately after handling these animals. Adults should also be careful that children wash their hands after handling a reptile. This info was found on the Minnesota Dept Of Health site. I wish the media would post the with more facts rather than just trying to make a news story at others expenses. A lot of times this is and effective way to "drive the markets" and the government has been doing it for years.