CNN
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Meals security officers say they are testing beef, together with floor beef from grocery shops, for the presence of the H5N1 chook flu virus that’s spreading in dairy cattle.
The USA Division of Agriculture mentioned on Monday that it’s conducting three separate beef security research. The company is sampling floor beef bought at grocery shops in states the place dairy cattle have examined constructive for the H5N1 avian influenza virus. It is usually taking samples of muscle tissue from sick cows which have been culled from their herd.
Lastly, they’re conducting cooking research, which can inoculate floor beef with a “virus surrogate” and cook dinner it to totally different temperatures to see how a lot virus is killed beneath every warmth setting.
The transfer comes as one nation, Colombia, placed restrictions on beef and beef merchandise coming from US states the place dairy herds have examined constructive for avian influenza.
The US Beef Export Basis mentioned the restrictions “haven’t any scientific foundation.” The US is the biggest provider of beef to Colombia, accounting for about $40 million final yr, the inspiration mentioned.
The USDA is testing beef with polymerase chain response, or PCR, testing, a extremely delicate lab check that may choose up even traces of inert genetic materials from the virus, if any is current. Any constructive samples can be additional evaluated for reside virus, USDA mentioned.
“USDA is assured that the meat provide is secure. USDA has a rigorous meat inspection course of” and “a number of safeguards in place to guard shoppers,” the company mentioned in an announcement despatched to media retailers on Monday.
“We advocate shoppers correctly deal with uncooked meats and cook dinner to a secure inner temperature,” which kills micro organism and viruses in meat, the company added.