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January 23, 2012 – Today, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson applauded the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for being awarded a major federal grant to help reduce public health risks from E. coli in beef.
“This grant award demonstrates, once again, that the University of Nebraska is a national leader in scientific research that has real-world value,” said Senator Nelson. “I applaud UNL for consistently demonstrating the superior research capabilities needed to win this size award in an extremely competitive environment. UNL will use this grant to pursue greater understanding of how to reduce food-borne illnesses, so the United States can maintain the most abundant and safest food in the world.”
Nelson’s comments came as the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today that UNL will receive a $25 million grant to help reduce the occurrence and public health risks from Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) along the entire beef production pathway. The grant was awarded by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Nelson, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, had supported UNL’s application for the grant.
UNL said today that Dr. James Keen at UNL, along with a multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary team of researchers, educators and extension specialists, will use the $25 million grant to improve risk management and assessment of eight strains of STEC in beef.
Senator Nelson said, “Consumers shouldn’t have to worry about whether the food reaching their table is safe for their families to eat. UNL will use this grant award to add to the body of research producers and processors can use to keep our food safe and secure, further strengthening their industries through increased consumer confidence. This is important work and I congratulate the team that put this proposal together.”
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