Study: Nearly Half US's Meat Contaminated

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Study: Nearly Half US's Meat Contaminated
By Jennifer Bauer

Posted: Saturday, April 16, 2011
Updated: 8:25 am CDT April 16, 2011

Houston -- A new study estimates almost half of the meat and poultry sold at stores in the U.S. is tainted with a type of bacteria that could be harmful to humans. Researchers tested 136 packages of different kinds of meat and found that 47 percent contained Staphylococcus aureus. The bacteria is linked to several human diseases. "I was surprised to see the percentage found; it's quite high I thought," said Dr. Gabriela Bowman, a microbiologist and professor at Texas A&M Health Center in Houston.

According to researchers, the livestock may be to blame rather than contamination during processing or packging. There are two ways for people need to protect themselves, Bowman said. "The two main points are: wash your hands to avoid cross-contamination in your kitchen and cook your meat well," she said. "You will (reduce) your risk greatly. You can get sick if you have a cut and you handle the meat and you don't wash your hands properly (afterward)."

Copyright 2011 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved.

[catlover79]

Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww...

[Janice]

I guess this explains the food poisoning my husband and I had two weeks ago.

[robyrob]

i have 3 different meat thermometers and I use them every single time I cook meat.

[TJL]

I hope the meat I ate tonight was from the good half.

[tiredmike59]

i would switch to just eating p-nut butter and jelly sandwiches, but half the time the p-nut butter is contaminated with salmonella. i guess we have a choice of being poisoned or starving to death.