USDA this week said it will expand its testing of beef entering the food supply as a response to the ongoing outbreak of avian influenza among dairy cattle.
Agriculture Dept. officials said the additional testing will begin in September and continue for the rest of this year. While they said beef and dairy products remain safe to consume, they’re remaining vigilant and acknowledge the spread of bird flu among dairy cattle.
Older dairy cattle are often slaughtered for ground beef. The agency’s testing program will focus on beef from those dairy cows.
Emilio Esteban, undersecretary for food safety, told reporters on a conference call Aug. 13 the new testing program follows three studies undertaken during the spring and summer that all found beef in the nation’s food supply is safe to eat, according to a report in Government Executive.
“However, we want to move forward with an additional step. And what this means is that when those carcasses are tested, they are held and are not going to go into commerce until we get the results back.”
Nearly 200 dairy cow herds in 13 U.S. states have contracted bird flu since March after the virus jumped from wild birds to cows, according to USDA data. The agency in May tested 109 beef samples from dairy cows sent to slaughter and found bird flu virus particles in one cow's tissue sample.
