The U.S. Department of Agriculture is considering whether or not to expand its non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) testing to include ground beef and ground beef components beyond beef manufacturing trimmings.
This week, USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) posted its analysis of estimated costs and benefits associated with implementing the additional testing.
Testing of beef manufacturing trimmings currently costs about $1.37 million each year and adding in raw ground beef, bench trim and other components would add $1 million.
The $2.37 million total would break down into $1.38 million is for FSIS and just under one million for the industry.
FoodWorld 