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OIG sees flaws in boxed beef E. coli inspection

The USDA’s Food Safety & Inspection Service (FSIS) is not doing enough to catch E. coli in boxed beef that’s turned into ground beef nor in tenderized cuts of meat, according to an audit by the USDA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG).

The OIG audit says the FSIS needs to “re-evaluate its E. coli testing methodology as it relates to downstream processing of boxed beef products.”

While the FSIS tests products designated as “ground beef” or likely to become ground beef they do not sample ALL boxed beef products. Unsampled cuts of beef without sampling prior to grinding at “downstream processors” could be contaminated with E. coli, the report says, and grocery stores and butcher shops could also potentially grind their own ground beef from bench trim which is NOT tested for E. coli.

The audit also says the FSIS needs to ensure accurate data and sufficient record-keeping in its new Public Health Information System (PHIS) for correct sampling of beef for E. coli testing and for traceback and recall purposes.