Study reveals most ground beef contains food poisoning bacteria

A recent research by Consumer Reports have shown that almost all ground beef consumed in the US contains food poisoning bacteria which are very harmful when the meat is not properly cooked. 300 packages of ground beef from 103 stores in 26 cities across the country were purchased in order to test the prevalence of bacteria in the meat. Incredibly, every product purchased contained bacteria showing fecal contamination - which can lead to E. coli and blood or urinary infections.
Ground beef are convenient and often inexpensive but very risky for consumption if not cooked properly to the standard internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit, the report says. Unfortunately, unlike white meats such as chicken and pork, many people choose to consume their red meat rare.
In addition, the report also show that ground beef also poses particular problems because its bacteria can be easily spread throughout several batches during production as against the bacteria on single cuts of beef such as a steak, which are often limited to the piece of meat's exterior and which is easily killed in cooking. But the bacteria in grounded beef is spread throughout the entirety of the package of meat.
 The report stated: 'Also contributing to ground beef’s bacteria level: The meat and fat trimmings often come from multiple animals, so meat from a single contaminated cow can end up in many packages of ground beef. 'And then there’s the way home cooks handle raw ground beef: kneading it with bare hands to form burger patties or a meatloaf. Unless you’re scrupulous about washing your hands thoroughly afterward, bacteria can remain and contaminate everything you touch - from the surfaces in your kitchen to other foods you are preparing.'