|
7/13/2009
3:40:00 PM
AgriLabs Emphasizes
Human Food Safety Benefits Of E.coli
SRP 0157 Vaccine
Source
of Article: http://www.cattlenetwork.com/Content.asp?ContentID=329912
St. Joseph,
MO, July 13, 2009 — AgriLabs, a longtime advocate of producer, industry and
governmental efforts to strengthen U.S. food safety, is proud to announce
the availability of America's first conditionally licensed E. coli O157 vaccine for cattle.
E. coli O157 is a
potentially deadly bacterium that can cause intestinal upset, dehydration,
and kidney failure. People with weakened immune systems, children and the
elderly are the most susceptible to food-borne illness caused by E. coli.
These
bacteria live in the intestinal tract of normal, healthy cattle, but don’t
cause disease in these cattle. During processing, the bacteria can find
their way into ground beef, and if improperly cooked, a serious outbreak of
the disease can occur when the food is eaten.
Recent media
attention has focused on governmental and industry efforts to develop
science-based strategies to reduce the prevalence of the E. coli O157 in beef and dairy
cattle.
"The
new E. coli O157 Bacterial
Extract from Epitopix is the first O157 vaccine conditionally licensed for
sale in the US, and represents a significant breakthrough," reports
Charlie Higdon, AgriLabs business unit manager. “The SRP O157 vaccine is
the first and only immunological weapon available to the dairy industry to
battle against this significant food safety concern.”
“We are
confident that the E. coli O157 SRP vaccine will play an
important role for dairy producers and veterinarians as they work together
to implement E. coli O157 food
safety controls." Higdon added.
AgriLabs is
the sole marketer of Epitopix' first major vaccine Salmonella Newport
Bacterial Extract, utilizing the exclusive SRP® technology. Since its
launch in 2004, this groundbreaking vaccine has been used in millions of
U.S. dairy cattle to battle Salmonella, a significant health concern for
dairy cattle, as well as a human food safety concern.
|
