This study indicates that treating cattle with sodium chlorate reduced E. coli, …

• Abstract
• Introduction
• Materials and Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Implications
• Literature Cited
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Biology Articles » Agriculture » Animal Production » Sodium chlorate supplementation reduces E. coli O157:H7 populations in cattle » Implications

Implications

- Sodium chlorate supplementation reduces E. coli O157:H7 populations in cattle

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a significant threat to human health and the confidence of the American public in the safety of their food supply. Results of this study indicate that treating cattle with sodium chlorate reduced E. coli, total coliforms, and E. coli O157:H7 populations at a preharvest critical control point. Even though chlorate kills intestinal bacteria, those cells lacking nitrate reductase are unaffected by chlorate and in this study the gastrointestinal fermentation profile was not altered by chlorate supplementation. It appears that chlorate could be used to improve food safety, but further studies are needed to determine the most efficacious treatment regimen.

Footnotes

1Proprietary or brand names are necessary to report factually on available data; however, the USDA neither guarantees nor warrants the standard of the product, and the use of the name by the USDA implies no approval of the product, and exclusion of others that may be suitable.

2Correspondence: 2881 F & B Rd. (phone: 979-260-9374; fax: 979- 260-9332; E-mail:callaway@ffsru.tamu.edu). Received October 5, 2001. Accepted December 19, 2001.