Petition Number 09-03: Petition for an Interpretive Rule Declaring all enterohemorrhagic Shiga Toxin-producing Serotypes of Escherichia coli (E. coli), including Non-O157 Serotypes, to be Adulterants Within the Meaning of 21 U.S.C. § 601(m)(1)

I wrote (download letter) to FSIS today in response to the recent German E. coli O104:H4 (a enterohemorrhagic Shiga Toxin-producing Serotypes of Escherichia coli) outbreak that has to date sickened some 2,500, hospitalized 650 with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome and killed 24 (six U.S. citizens are ill). This tragic outbreak falls on the heels of an E. coli O111 (another enterohemorrhagic Shiga Toxin-producing Serotypes of Escherichia coli) outbreak in Japan that sickened nearly 100 and killed four.

Frankly, it is time for OMB to allow FSIS to move forward with this critical public health issue or for FSIS to simply act on its own. (A complete copy of the pettion and correspondence).