USDA assures public retail meat is safe, still plans to test beef samples

Apr 29, 2024

Lauren Taylor Anchor/Reporter

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor/Reporter), Evan Hummel (Producer), Jake Maslo (Video Editor)

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In an effort to contain the recent outbreak of bird flu, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has implemented new regulations for lactating dairy cows. As of Monday, April 29, the cows must test negative for the virus before being transported across state lines.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported on Friday, April 26, that initial tests on milk, conducted using gold-standard PCR tests, revealed the pasteurization effectively kills the bird flu virus. Colorado has become the ninth state to confirm cases of infected dairy herds.

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Additionally, the USDA announced plans to test retail beef samples using PCR tests and conduct a study on the virus’s behavior when exposed to different cooking temperatures. The agency has emphasized that cooking meat to the recommended internal temperature effectively eliminates bacteria and viruses.

The USDA is examining beef muscle samples from condemned cattle at the slaughter facilities to detect vital particles. Bird flu was detected in a lung tissue sample from an asymptomatic dairy cow, though it did not enter the food supply.

Colombia has restricted beef and beef products from states with confirmed cases of avian influenza in dairy cows.

Despite these measures, the USDA assures people that the meat supply remains safe. Ground beef samples from affected states are being collected for testing to determine the presence of viral particles. The USDA has not yet specified when the ground beef testing will take place.

Tags: Agriculture, Bird Flu, food, Health, Livestock, Pandemic, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Food and Drug Administration

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

AS THE USDA LOOKS TO FURTHER CRACK DOWN ON A BIRD FLU OUTBREAK

BY ZEROING IN ON BEEF SAFETY.

IN RESPONSE TO THE CRISIS, THE USDA BEGAN TESTING OF LACTATING DAIRY COWS FOR BIRD FLU BEFORE THEY CAN BE SHIPPED ACROSS STATE LINES.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE BEEF?

THE AGENCY ANNOUNCED PLANS TO ANALYZE BEEF SAMPLES USING PCR TESTS.

IT WILL ALSO EXAMINE HOW DIFFERENT COOKING TEMPERATURES AFFECT THE VIRUS IN GROUND BEEF.

LAST WEEK, BIRD FLU WAS DETECTED IN A LUNG TISSUE SAMPLE OF AN ASYMPTOMATIC DAIRY COW THAT DID NOT MAKE ITS WAY INTO THE FOOD SUPPLY.

THE MOVE COMES AS OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE TAKEN PRECAUTIONS WITH BEEF.

COLOMBIA HAS MOVED TO RESTRICT IMPORTS OF BEEF AND BEEF PRODUCTS FROM STATES WITH CONFIRMED CASES OF BIRD FLU IN DAIRY COWS.

STILL, THE USDA SAYS THE MEAT SUPPLY IS SAFE.

THEIR LATEST EFFORTS INVOLVE COLLECTING GROUND BEEF SAMPLES FROM AFFECTED STATES FOR TESTING. THERE HAVE BEEN CASES IN AT LEAST 9 STATES AT THIS TIME BUT HAS YET TO SET A START DATE FOR GROUND BEEF TESTING.

IF VIRAL PARTICLES ARE DISCOVERED, THE AGENCY SAYS IT’LL MAKE MOVES TO ADDRESS IT “PROMPTLY.”

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