Feeding cattle their natural diet of plants--instead of grain and "by-product feedstuff" like out-of-date breading, stale pastry, cement dust, chicken manure, rancid restaurant grease, and shredded telephone books--greatly reduces the risk of E. coli transmission (see www.eatwild.com for more information).   This is a major area where the USDA plays a key role in spotting contamination at the source (processing).

The discovery of "mad cow disease", officially known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy or BSE, in the American cattle herd has driven our sales of pasture-finished beef through the roof--in fact, we're out-of-stock on many items as a result.   As most people know, the best science we are given indicates that BSE is caused by ingesting BSE-contaminated tissue.   Since our cattle don't eat animal products of any sort, this is not a problem.   Though the jury is still out as to an undeniable cause of BSE, it seems clear that "pushing the river" by manipulating animal production beyond normal limits through unreasonable means will create damage, sooner or later.   Slow and easy is Nature's way.