National Cattlemen's Beef Association Statement on Beef Safety and Commitment to Eliminating E. coli O157:H7

12/06/07 "Providing the safest beef in the world is our number one priority and we are committed to winning the battle against E. coli.

"For years, America's beef producers and our partners in the food supply chain have dedicated significant time and resources to reducing the incidence of E. coli in beef. Beef producers have invested millions of dollars in beef safety research, leading to best practices which serve as a road map in reducing E. coli O157:H7. These best practices are in addition to strict oversight by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

"While recalls still take place, our commitment and government actions toward beef safety are working. Significant progress has been made to reduce the incidence of E. coli O157:H7 in ground beef, which is demonstrated in the downward trend of incidence of the pathogen between 2000 and 2006.

"Even with all the steps being taken and past successes, we know we still have more work ahead of us, which is why we are committed to continuing our efforts to ensure beef remains safe."