The USDA came out with some startling news today. An audit by their Office of the Inspector General found that the food on our grocery shelves may contain pesticides, antibiotics, animal medicines, and heavy metals such as copper.  What makes it worse is that their maybe no existing standards regarding what levels of these contaminants are allowed under EPA and FDA regulations. According to a USAToday... [more]

A 2008 study published by the Agricultural Research Service examined E. coli O157:H7 and beef tenderization.  The article  discussed the concerns that E. coli bacteria is frequently associated with ground beef, but has also been seen in mechanically tenderized beef products. The study examined the depth into which the tenderizing blades could insert E. coli bacteria into the meat. This was done in... [more]