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Food Safety Economics pp 177–207Cite as

Economic Incentives for Innovation: E. coli O157:H7 in US Beef

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Part of the book series: Food Microbiology and Food Safety ((PRACT))

Abstract

The 1993 outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in hamburger inspired innovation in both the US public and private sectors. The Food Safety and Inspection Service in US Department of Agriculture declared E. coli O157:H7 an “adulterant” in 1994 and required meat and poultry companies to design and implement Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point systems to control foodborne pathogens in 1996. In response to the outbreak and new regulations, companies invented the Bacterial Pathogen Sampling and Testing Program for the hamburger patty production line as well as steam pasteurization of sides of beef at the end of the slaughter line. These innovations were profitable to the inventors. The increased pressure by regulators to control pathogens also provided incentives for pathogen control, including the incentive of sales to USDA’s National School Lunch Program. One company did not comply, had an outbreak, and sold off its beef plants.

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Abbreviations

APC:

Aerobic plate counts

ARS:

USDA’s Agricultural Research Service

BIFSCo:

Beef Industry Food Safety Council

BPSTP:

Bacterial Pathogen Sampling and Testing Program

BSPS:

Beef steam pasteurization system

BSPS-SC:

BSPS-Static Chamber unit

CCP:

Critical control point

CDC:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

DOJ:

US Department of Justice

ERS:

Economic Research Service

FDA:

US Food and Drug Administration

FSIS:

Food Safety and Inspection Service

HACCP:

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point

HUS:

Hemolytic uremic syndrome

IAFP:

International Association for Food Protection

KSU:

Kansas State University

MOU:

Memorandum of understanding

NCBA:

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

NSLP:

National School Lunch Program

OIG:

Office of Inspector General/USDA

PR:

Pathogen reduction

STEC:

Shiga toxin-producing E. coli

STOP:

Safe Tables Our Priority

US:

United States

USDA:

US Department of Agriculture

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Economic Research Service, USDA (retired), Center for Foodborne Illness Research and Prevention, Vashon, WA, USA

    Tanya Roberts

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Correspondence to Tanya Roberts .

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  1. Economic Research Service, USDA (retired), Center for Foodborne Illness Research and Prevention, Vashon, WA, USA

    Tanya Roberts

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Roberts, T. (2018). Economic Incentives for Innovation: E. coli O157:H7 in US Beef. In: Roberts, T. (eds) Food Safety Economics. Food Microbiology and Food Safety(). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92138-9_10

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