How E. Coli Travels from Beef Processing Plant to Burger

Posted by Robyn Lee, October 5, 2009 at 11:30 AM

[Image: New York Times]

Twenty-two-year-old Stephanie Smith was a children's dance instructor until an E. coli–tainted burger caused her such severe symptoms that she had to be put in a coma for nine weeks. When she awoke, she was paralyzed from the waist down. Michael Moss of the New York Times traces the journey of the burger patties made of beef from four different plants processed by Cargill, and uncovers the flaws of beef inspection by describing how E. coli can spread during processing and the measures being taken to prevent contamination.

Further discussion can be found in this Serious Eats Talk thread.

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Tags: E. coli, food poisoning, health, New York Times