Irradiated Beef
Coming Soon to a Store Near You
WASHINGTON, DC-Excel Corp., the second largest beef processor in the US, plans to ship irradiated beef to its food service customers in March. Treated beef will require labels with the international symbol of irradiation, but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says the meat is not radioactive. The irradiation process uses gamma rays, X-rays, or electron beams to eliminate E. coli and reduce the possibility of listeria, salmonella, and campylobacter in meat. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), E. coli O157 infects over 73,000 people a year and causes about 600 deaths.
The FDA has previously allowed irradiation in poulty, fruits, vegetables, and spices. The new approval applies not only to beef but also to pork and lamb. The FDA is currently reviewing the use of irradiation in ready-to-eat meats, such as hot dogs and luncheon meats.
Beyond the Surface: Rethinking Environmental Hygiene Validation at Exchange25
June 30th 2025Environmental hygiene is about more than just shiny surfaces. At Exchange25, infection prevention experts urged the field to look deeper, rethink blame, and validate cleaning efforts across the entire care environment, not just EVS tasks.
A Controversial Reboot: New Vaccine Panel Faces Scrutiny, Support, and Sharp Divides
June 26th 2025As the newly appointed Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met for the first time under sweeping changes by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the national spotlight turned to the panel’s legitimacy, vaccine guidance, and whether science or ideology would steer public health policy in a polarized era.
Getting Down and Dirty With PPE: Presentations at HSPA by Jill Holdsworth and Katie Belski
June 26th 2025In the heart of the hospital, decontamination technicians tackle one of health care’s dirtiest—and most vital—jobs. At HSPA 2025, 6 packed workshops led by experts Jill Holdsworth and Katie Belski spotlighted the crucial, often-overlooked art of PPE removal. The message was clear: proper doffing saves lives, starting with your own.
