Author: Sheridan Kidd Haack, Research Hydrologist/Microbiologist, U.S. Geological Survey
The author is not aware of many specifics about food testing rules. There are numerous tests for E. coli and even for E. coli O157:H7 and for other pathogens in food. There have also been a number of surveys, such as the recent article on pathogens in chicken in Consumer Reports magazine and also surveys conducted by the FDA, for example. If pathogens are found in animal foods, they likely come from the intestinal contents of the animals at slaughter or during processing and not from "manure." This project's team focused on livestock pathogens that may impact humans through water transport opportunities.
Additional reading:
• The "Bad Bug Book", U.S. Food and Drug Administration
• "Gateway to Government Food Safety Information"
• Food safety programs through your county's Cooperative Extension office or state's land-grant university.
