Federal government to expand E. Coli testing in meat

The federal government said Tuesday that it will expand its testing of E. Coli in meat to identify more foodborne illnesses.

The beef industry will have to test for six additional E. Coli strains in beef trimmings starting in March.

Ronald Eustice, executive director of the Minnesota Beef Council, said the state's beef producers support the expanded testing.

But Eustice said he hopes the U.S. Department of Agriculture will go a step further.

"We have a technology, and that's food irradiation, that could help to make ground beef one of the safest foods on the dinner table," he said. "It will do for ground beef and other ground meats what pasteurization did for milk."

The USDA is announcing details of the new testing program Tuesday. It will start with ground beef but could expand to other meats.