STEC primer - would we detect superbug European E. coli here?
Simply put - in the U.S. we are looking for 0157:H7 (Shiga Toxin producing E. coli) as a marker for food contamination.
HOWEVER, there are six non-1057 STEC (Shiga Toxin producing E. coli) that we NEED to be looking for.
Here, in the interest of informing and not overwhelming you are 2 very important paragraphs from Food Safety News,
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/06/a-us-response-to-the-european-e-coli-outbreak/
"In fact, numbers released this week by the Centers for Disease Control show that the United States has about the same number of non-O157 STECs as O157:H7 STEC. This means that it is time to change the way we handle these deadly pathogens. In 1994, Mike Taylor declared E. coli O157:H7 to be an adulterant in meat and poultry products when he was Undersecretary of Food Safety at USDA. In recent years, USDA has repeatedly been asked to address this and declare the "Big Six" non-O157 STECs to be adulterants as well, but so far no action has been taken."
"If passed through Congress, these budget cuts will make it nearly impossible for FDA to implement the new, higher standards in the recently signed food safety bill or for USDA to take action on non-O157 STECs. The United States will be taking a giant step backwards."
Budget cuts that preclude this declaration, higher standards, and more safety will not be in our country or the world's best interest.
HOWEVER, there are six non-1057 STEC (Shiga Toxin producing E. coli) that we NEED to be looking for.
Here, in the interest of informing and not overwhelming you are 2 very important paragraphs from Food Safety News,
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/06/a-us-response-to-the-european-e-coli-outbreak/
"In fact, numbers released this week by the Centers for Disease Control show that the United States has about the same number of non-O157 STECs as O157:H7 STEC. This means that it is time to change the way we handle these deadly pathogens. In 1994, Mike Taylor declared E. coli O157:H7 to be an adulterant in meat and poultry products when he was Undersecretary of Food Safety at USDA. In recent years, USDA has repeatedly been asked to address this and declare the "Big Six" non-O157 STECs to be adulterants as well, but so far no action has been taken."
"If passed through Congress, these budget cuts will make it nearly impossible for FDA to implement the new, higher standards in the recently signed food safety bill or for USDA to take action on non-O157 STECs. The United States will be taking a giant step backwards."
Budget cuts that preclude this declaration, higher standards, and more safety will not be in our country or the world's best interest.
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