The largest-ever recall of 143 millions pounds of beef in February 2008 draws attention to problems in the enforcement of federal food safety regulations -- not only with regard to animal cruelty, but also with regard to public health. Although the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ranked this recent recall as a minor health risk because it involved a violation of inspection rules rather than a proof of contamination, don't forget that, in 2007, almost 22 million pounds of frozen hamburger patties were recalled due to contamination with the bacteria, E. coli 0157:H7. Although E. coli O157:H7 is not harmful to cows, it can cause severe illness, including bloody diarrhea, in humans.

At the 2008 Beef Industry Safety Summit, researchers from Kansas State University and West Texas A&M University presented the results of a study examining the effects of a novel vaccine technology called siderophore receptor and porin (SRP) on the shedding of E. coli from beef cattle. In a study of more than 1,200 head of cattle, these scientists found that SRP technology decreased E. coli shedding by 85%. These results are promising for progress in the prevention of future E. coli contamination in ground beef.

In a related story , last month, Bioniche, a Canadian company, received notice from the USDA that its E. coli O157:H7 vaccine met efficacy standards which would allow the company to seek a conditional license to sell the vaccine in the United States.