Preharvest Animal Management Controls and Intervention Options for Reducing <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157:H7 and Other Shiga Toxin-Producing <i>E. coli</i> Shedding in Cattle: A Critical Analysis

Shiga toxin-producing <i>Escherichia coli</i> (STEC; also known as enterohemorrhagic <i>E. coli</i>) are virulent foodborne pathogenic bacteria that are frequently isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of beef and dairy cattle. The beef industry is committed to ensuring a safe and wholesome food supply; as a result, the industry has investigated a number of methods to reduce STEC by implementing changes on the farm and in the processing plant. While interventions can reduce STEC entry into the food chain, the introduction of hurdles does not remove the need to ensure animal health and utilize proper animal management and sanitation procedures on the farm and in the processing plant. This review addresses the latest literature investigating potential preharvest STEC (both <i>E. coli</i> O157:H7 and other non-O157:H7 STEC serotypes) intervention strategies. On-farm interventions to reduce STEC in cattle can be divided up into three broad categories: (1) animal management and transport practices, (2) feed and water management, and (3) live animal treatments. Ultimately, preharvest intervention strategies are imperfect and may not always be complementary with other pathogen reduction strategies as part of a coordinated multiple-hurdle approach. By reducing the burden of STEC entering processing plants, we can increase the effectiveness of in-plant interventions and further reduce human illnesses.