E-Coli Infection: Prevented By Grilling
The E-Coli infection outbreak in Germany has prompted the advocates of food safety to demand extensive testing processes for the beef that feeds most of the country. The U.S. Department of Agriculture already examined the beef for the standardized e-coli strain 0157:H7 which is responsible for infecting 160,000 people every year.
How E-Coli Contaminates Meat
E-Coli 0157:H7 is known to reside in the intestines of animals which are slaughtered for their meat. The bacteria can survive within a refrigerator and can even withstand the freezing conditions. People, fond of the rare steaks mare subjected to the contamination and fall ill after consuming the microbe-laden meat.
The Research Study
Certain research studies carried out by the US have uncovered that the sirloin steaks contain very low levels of e-coli contamination, that too on the surface predominantly. The traces of bacteria can be easily eliminated by grilling the meat feel the food scientists.
The researchers apparently basted the entire steak with 0157:H7 strains of the microbe before grilling it John B. Luchansky and his team of researchers found that only about 3%-4% of the bacteria travelled to the center f the steak while more than 40% stayed on the surface layer. This was observed after the meat was passed through a blade tenderizer.
The team then cut out the meat into steaks of varying thickness and proceeded to grill them on a commercial gas grill. The beef had been exposed to the e-coli previously and was cooked at 120, 130 and 140 degrees F in order to get very rare, rare and medium rare forms of steak.
The cooked meat showed absolutely no trace of the contaminant making it clear that grilling was an effective way to get rid of the dreaded E-Coli.
The USDA, however, warns people of the hamburger. There are chances of the bacteria being spread throughout the meat when it is ground and mixed with other ingredients. It needs to be cooked properly before consumption and should never be consumed rare, warn the authorities.
The sad turn of events in Germany has at least prompted the USDA to shake itself out of inaction. Hopefully, people across the country will be better informed now and take the precautions necessary for keeping E-Coli infection out.