Beef Quote by Eric Schlosser
![“A nationwide study published by the USDA in 1996 found that [...] 78.6 percent of the ground beef contained microbes that are spread primarily by fecal matter. The medical literature on the causes of food poisoning is full of euphemisms and dry scientific terms: coliform levels, aerobic plate…” quote by Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/06c/eric-schlosser-3894_beef_a-nationwide-study-published-by-the-usda_811818.jpg)
““A nationwide study published by the USDA in 1996 found that [...] 78.6 percent of the ground beef contained microbes that are spread primarily by fecal matter. The medical literature on the causes of food poisoning is full of euphemisms and dry scientific terms: coliform levels, aerobic plate counts, sorbitol, MacConkey agar, and so on. Behind them lies a simple explanation for why eating hamburger meat makes you sick: There is shit in the meat.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser, 2001
The quote highlights that many ground beef products are contaminated with fecal bacteria, and technical jargon masks the simple reality that the meat is unsafe to eat.
In simple terms: Ground beef often contains harmful fecal bacteria.
Key Takeaway
Be cautious of meat safety and demand better standards.
Themes
food safety
public health
industrial food
consumer awareness
Mood
concerned
alert
critical
Type
warning
informative
When to use this quote
- grocery shopping
- restaurant dining
- home cooking
- food policy advocacy
Key Concepts
microbial contamination
food industry practices
regulatory oversight
Questions to Reflect On
- How can consumers verify meat safety?
- What reforms could reduce contamination?
A Different Perspective
The statement may overgeneralize and not reflect improvements in meat processing since 1996.
