What's In the Meat? Summary and Analysis

Food-related illnesses are on the rise in this country. From outbreaks of minor food poisoning to infections from deadly E. Coli, food production processes and distribution can spread such food poisoning throughout the country and world. While E. Coli is perhaps the most well known, because of highly publicized meat recalls, several others have been identified, and there are more to come. Infectious diseases common to beef come from cows that appear healthy but carry microbes in the stomach or on fecal matter. Somehow, in the processing of the beef, the meat cut and packaged has come into contact with stomach contents or feces, and the final product is frozen and shipped out with the microbes. In the words of the author, "There is shit in the meat." If the meat is not thoroughly cooked...