USDA TOUGHENS STANDARDS FOR BEEF

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 5, 1993                   TAG: 9303050095
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short
USDA TOUGHENS STANDARDS FOR BEEF
The Agriculture Department has toughened inspection standards for beef carcasses in response to an outbreak of food poisoning from bacterially contaminated ground beef, it said Thursday.
In a memo issued this week, the Food Safety and Inspection Service told meat inspectors and plant operators that no level of contamination by feces or undigested food would be allowed on carcasses or boneless beef.
Previously, a certain number of "specks" of contamination were allowed, said Jim Greene, a spokesman. "We did allow extremely small amounts," he said. "That's because it's practically impossible to guarantee a carcass that's entirely free."
- Associated Press

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB