If it doesn't get passed, become a vegetarian.

New York Senator Kristen Gillibrand has introduced the E. Coli Eradication Act of 2009 which would require meat companies to test for a deadly E. coil strain before mixing their trimmings typically used to make ground beef. Many companies already, voluntarily test their meats, but the bill focuses mainly on the slaughterhouses which rarely administer such testing. Gillibrand states that her interest in the issue was sparked when she read an article about Stephanie Smith, a 22-year-old, former dance instructor who is now partially paralyzed because of exposure to the E. coli strain in a hamburger. The testing targets the O157:H7 strain which appears to be most common and very harmful. The proposed testing would result in a one cent increase in cost per pound of ground beef.

I was shocked that we don't have this law already; I guess since Upton Sinclair's The Jungle food regulation slowed down. It seems to me that a one cent price increase won't cause any disturbance in sales or profits and will promote a much healthier food industry.

I also find it interesting that no matter what the story, the proponent never fails to deliver an empathy-wrenching story to back of their own propositions. This tactic is generally effective in garnering support for a cause, and in this case I think the issue, although probably not causing everyone who eats a hamburger to become paralyzed, is still worth exploring.

Stephanie Smith pictured above.

Links:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/health/19beef.html?_r=1&ref=politics

http://gillibrand.senate.gov/