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AMI responds on tenderized steak issue

Responding to calls for special labeling of tenderized steak, the American Meat Institute (AMI) says blade-tenderized steaks are comparable in safety to those that have not been mechanically tenderized.   Therefore, AMI says, no special labeling is needed.

On Monday, Representative Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut called for special warning labels in reaction to last week’s recall of blade-tenderized beef products linked to E. coli illnesses in six states.  The beef came from an Oklahoma meat processor.

AMI notes that all steaks in retail stores, whether blade-tenderized or not, must bear safe handling labels instructing consumers how to cook and handle them to ensure they are safe when served. 

Meanwhile, according to Food Safety News, a coalition of food safety advocates warned Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack in June about risks presented by mechanically tenderized steaks.  The Make Our Food Safe Coalition says it sent a letter and memo to Vilsack outlining specific risks and recommending the agency require labeling and educate consumers to minimize the risk to public health. 

According to the group, Vilsack and his staff have yet to issue a formal response to the documents.