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The U.S. currently imports lean boneless beef trim to meet demands of ground beef production. The countries of origin include Australia, New Zealand, and Uruguay. For the purpose of microbial analysis, these imported products are treated as domestic products. However, there is little information on the microbial status of imported beef and virtually none of the existing data has been collected using modern techniques. This project will survey these raw materials to determine their microbial profile to ensure that the current profiling approach is accurate.
APPROACH: The incidence of disease caused by specific bacterial pathogens differs between countries. One example is the variation in serotypes of shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) most commonly associated with foodborne disease. In the U.S. and Europe, E. coli O157:H7 is the most frequent cause of STEC associated disease, whereas in Australia and New Zealand STEC infections are due to serotypes O111 and O26. A total of 300 samples from each country (Australia, New Zealand, Uruguay, and the U.S.) will be obtained from two importers. Each sample will be analyzed for enumeration of aerobic bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, Staphylococcus aureus, coliforms and E. coli. The samples will also be screened for the presence of Salmonella ssp, campylobacter ssp , Listeria ssp , and non-O157 STEC. Any of these organisms present will be isolated and identified to species and serotype levels. The differences in the hygienic status and pathogen load between imported and domestic boneless beef will then be determined. This project will show if the imported products need to be subjected to different profiling than is currently in place.
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PROGRESS: 2005/01 TO 2005/12<BR>
Progress Report 4d Progress report. This report serves to document research conducted under a trust fund cooperative agreement between ARS and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent project 5438-42000-012-00D, Control of Pathogenic and Spoilage Bacteria on Red Meat. This project was initiated to evaluate the microbial profile of raw material imported into the U.S. and destined for ground beef production. ARS scientists at USMARC determined the prevalence of pathogens such as STEC, Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter, and Salmonella on imported beef trim to be used for ground beef. Enumeration of bacterial indicators of process hygiene showed significant differences between beef trim from all countries. The lowest levels were observed in samples from Australia and the highest levels in samples from Uruguay. Serotyping of isolates showed that hemolytic uremic syndrome-associated serotypes were not different in prevalence between imported and domestic beef trim. Through this work, the collaborating beef trim importers shared the results with their Uruguayan suppliers and officials. Because of these results, Uruguayan beef processors have altered and improved their procedures and are exporting microbiologically improved beef trim. This work shows that the measured differences between imported and domestic beef trim do not necessitate changes to the current monitoring system in the United States.