Dive Summary:
- Consumer Reports has published a report that claims a high percentage of pork and ground pork in grocery stores is contaminated with bacterium yersinia enterocolitica and other bacteria.
- Of the 148 samples taken from grocery stores in six major cities, Yersinia enterocolitica was present in 69%, Enterococcus in 11%, Staphylococcus in 7%; Salmonella in 4%; and Listeria in 3%.
- A separate test showed that 20% of samples had the drug ractopamine present, a growth agent allowed in the U.S. but banned in the E.U., China and Taiwan.
From the article:
As reported by Meatingplace, American Meat Institute Foundation President James Hodges issued the following statement regarding the investigation: “The most critical takeaway for U.S. pork consumers is this: U.S. pork remains among the safest in the world and consumers needn't change their eating habits despite a new article released by Consumer Reports that is based upon a limited sample of the U.S. pork supply. All pork products must be processed under the watchful eye of USDA inspectors or they may not be sold. Consumers should choose the products they prefer knowing that all must meet the same food safety standards in order to bear the USDA seal."
