Following the largest beef recall in the US - over 140 million pounds - the US Department of Agriculture has announced a new rule; retailers supplied with contaminated meat will be now be named.

It is absolutely shocking that this has only just been introduced. Currently, when meat is recalled, only the name of the company recalling the meat is made public, along with a description of the meat and brand names, but that is no use to consumers since noone knows where this meat is being sold. The new rule will ensure that the grocery stores stocking the contaminated meat will be named.

But to all you meat eaters out there, don’t think you’re safe - the new rule doesn’t apply to all meat recalls (only those with the most serious risk to health) and plus, most often recalls do not occur until it is way to late, i.e. the diseased meat is already in your belly.

Surprise, surprise, the meat industry has come out against the new rule saying it could ‘confuse’ consumers. They know as well as anyone how damaging it would be for a meat retailer to be named as a seller of potentially lethal contaminated meat. Best bet; stay away from meat all together.

In 2000, 3-year old Brianna Kriefall dined at a Sizzler restaurant in the US. A week later, she was dead.

The cause of Brianna’s death was E. coli contaminated meat. At best, E.coli causes severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea, at worst; seizures, kidney damage and strokes. Some may need blood transfusions and kidney dialysis. Others may live with permanent kidney damage. Others, especially children, may die.

A meatpacker and other companies have agreed to pay $13.5 million to Brianna’s father and 3 brothers. Sadly, her mother passed away in 2006.

Meat recalls, especially for E. coli, seem to be on the rise. A quick news search on google brings up 5 cases in the last month alone (see below) and I’m sure there have been many others that have not made it to the internet. We are all aware of the link between meat and heart disease and cancer, but e.coli is fast becoming a risk that we cannot afford to ignore.

Whilst we can moderate our intake of meat to reduce our chances of heart disease and cancer, with E.coli it is simply pot-luck. You cannot tell if the meat is contaminated and the recall usually only takes place after reports of sickness or death resulting from the contaminated meat. Let’s hope it isn’t your death that prompts the next recall.

E. coli outbreak concerns officials - 12 June
Reports of six cases of E. coli infection in the past week have health officials concerned and looking closely to see whether the illnesses are linked. Three cases in Fairfield County and three in Franklin County, including two in Columbus, were reported after the death on May 27 of a 52-year-old Gahanna woman who was infected with the bacteria.

Dutch’s Meat Recalls E.Coli Tained Meat - 10 June
Dutch’s Meats Inc., a hamburger plant located in Trenton, New Jersey has recalled 13,275 pounds of hamburger after tests showed possible E Coli contamination of a batch of meat, officials said. Dutch’s Meats sells to customers and restaurants in Trenton and Pennsylvania and does not sell to individual consumers.

Chicago company recalls meat for E. coli concerns - 17 May
CHICAGO (AP) — Federal officials say a Chicago-based company is recalling beef products distributed in 11 states because of possible E. coli contamination. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Saturday that no illnesses have reported from the meat, produced by JSM Meat Holdings Co. The agency was uncertain how much meat is being recalled.

Alberta consumers warned about possible beef E. coli contamination - 16 May
Consumers in Alberta are being warned not to eat ground beef sold in January at Paradise Halal Meat Market in Edmonton, because it may be contaminated with E. coli O157: H7 bacteria.

Frozen Meat recalled - 16 May
People who recently purchased frozen beef and bison meat from Slater’s First Class Meats in Oak Bay are warned not to consume it as the meat may contain dangerous E. coli bacteria. The meat recall affected not only Slater’s but numerous other stores who are supplied by Trimpac Meat Distributors in Vancouver.