IFT Review of Antibiotic Resistance - Federation of Animal Science ...

Antimicrobial 

Resistance: 

Implications for the Food System 

An Expert Report 

IFT Foundation 

Sponsored by the

Intellectual Contributors 

Frank Busta 

University of Minnesota 

Bruce Cords 

Ecolab 

Scott Hurd 

Director, WHO Collaborating Center 

for Risk Assessment and Hazard 

Identification in Foods of Animal Origin 

Richard Isaacson 

University of Minnesota 

Michael Davidson 

University of Tennessee 

Karl Matthews 

Rutgers University 

Michael Doyle, Panel Chair 

University it of Georgia 

John Maurer 

University it of Georgia 

John Hawke 

Louisiana State University 

Jianghong Meng 

University of Maryland

Intellectual Contributors 

Thomas Montville 

Rutgers University 

Anne Vidaver 

University of Nebraska 

Thomas Shryock 

Elanco Animal Health 

Lyle Vogel 

American Veterinary Medical Association 

John Sofos 

Colorado State University 

IFT Staff: Jennifer McEntire 

Rosetta Newsome 

Fred Shank

Incidence of Foo 

dborne Illness in 

United States 

● U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

estimates 76 million cases of foodborne illness 

annually 

▲ Includes 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 

deaths 

P. S. Mead et al. 5:607 (1999)

Leading Bacterio 

logical Causes of 

Enteric Foodborne Illness in USA 

● 

Campylobacter jejuni –estimated 2.4 million cases/yr 

● Salmonella sp. – estimated 1. 4 million cases/yr 

● E. coli O157:H7 – estimated 73,000 cases/yr 

P. Mead et al. Emerging Infect. 

Dis. 5:607-625 625 (1999)

Principal Source 

es of Foodborne 

Pathogens 

● Animals used in food production 

▲ Cattle – E. coli O157:H7 (EHEC), Salmonella, 

Campylobacter 

▲ Swine – Salmonella, Campylobacter 

▲ Poultry – Campylobacter, Salmonella

Antimicrobials 

Used in Food 

Production and Food Processing 

● Important to reduce and control foodborne 

pathogens in animals use 

ed for foods and the further 

processing of animals

Antibiotic Applications 

● 

Antimicrobials used during food production and manufacturing to improve the efficiency of 

the system, and increase the safety and quality of the product 

▲ Animal Husbandry in USA – Antibiotics 

♦ Poultry – 8.4 billion broilers and 26 

64 million turkeys (2004) 

■ 10,000 – 20,000 broilers per house and 5,000 – 10,000 turkeys per group 

♦ Swine – 103 million hogs slaughtered for food (2005) 

■ >75% of swine grown in operations with >5000 head 

♦ Beef Cattle – 37 million head slaughtered (2004) 

■ Ca. 83% of feedlots use ≥1 antibiotic for disease prophylaxis or to increase 

feed efficiency 

♦ Dairy Cattle – 9.12 million head in milk production (2001) 

■ Antibiotics used to treat mastitis 

♦ Veal Calves – raised individually in 

stalls until 16-18 weeks of age 

■ Antibiotics used to treat respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases and for 

disease prophylaxis 

Antibiotic uses: 

Therapeutic, including subtherapeutic to prevent disease or control pathogens (ca. 

95% of antibiotic usage) 

Non-therapeutic uses: Promote growth rate and feed efficiency

Antibiotic Applications 

▲ Aquaculture – Antibiotics only used in U.S. to treat 

disease; not for growth promotion 

♦ 49 million pounds of salmon, 20 million pounds of 

tilapia, 10 million pounds of striped bass (USA, 2000), 

630 million pounds of catfish, 46 million pounds of 

trout (USA, 2003) 

♦ Catfish grown in 10- to 20-acre ponds with 10,000 

fish/acre 

▲ Plant Agriculture – Antibiotics to control bacterial 

diseases and fungicides to 

control fungi 

♦ Fruit trees account for most of antibiotic i use on plants 

♦ Most antimicrobials used on plants are fungicides 

▲ Human Medicine – Antibio 

otics used to treat disease and 

prevent infection

Antibiotic Usage Data 

● 

Exact amount of antibiotics used in animal production is 

unknown but likely comparabl 

e to amount used in human 

medicine 

▲ Animals – est. 21.7 million 

use; 2004) 

pounds (95% for therapeutic 

▲ Aquaculture – 65,000 pounds annually (2003) 

▲ Plants – 52 million pounds 

of fungicides id and 44,000 

pounds of antibiotics (2004) 

▲ Human – unknown (est. 4. 

5 million to 32 million pounds 

depending on organizationn providing estimates)

Monitoring Antibiotic Resistance 

● 

National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System for 

Enteric Bacteria (NARMS) 

▲ U.S. antibiotic resistance monitoring system for foodrelated 

bacteria – CDC, FDA, USDA 

▲ Purpose – monitor change 

es in susceptibilities of zoonotic 

pathogens in humans, animals and animal products 

♦ Bacterial isolates from human and animal clinical 

specimens, healthy farm 

animals, and raw foods of 

animal origin 

■ Salmonella, E. coli, 

Campylobacter, Enterococcus 

♦ Determine Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of 

important antimicrobial classes used in human and 

animal medicine

Trends in Percentage of Antibiotic-Resistant Salmonella Newport 

Isolated from Human Cases, a Animals and Animal Products, b and 

Retail Meats c in the United States 

Antibiotic Resistance 

Humans 

1996 2001 

None of 14 agents 82 65 

5 or more agents 6 27 

8 or more agents 4 25 

MDR-AmpC 0 25 

Ciprofloxacin 0 

Ceftiofur 4 27 

Ampicillin 6 29 

Tetracycline 8 30 

Trimethoprim-Sulfa 4 2 

a 

CDC NARMS 

b 

USDA NARMS 

c 

FDA NARMS 

Animals & Products 

Retail 

Meats 

2002 2000 2002 2003 2002 

73 

23 

22 

22 

0 0 0 0 0 

22 75 78 74 62 

24 76 80 74 62 

25 78 83 77 62 

4 19 2 0

Changes in the incidence of foodborne illness, and corresponding changes in 

prevalence of antibiotic-resistant foodborne pathogens in U.S. 

Year(s) 

Organism 

Case rate 

(per 100,000) 

Relative 

Decrease 

or increase 

% 

Resistant 

Case rate 

(per 100,000) 

Relative 

decrease 

or increase 

1996-98 Salmonella 15.9 

31% (2 or more 4.9 

antibiotics, 1996) 

2004 14.7 8% decrease 16% (2 or more 2.4 51% 


decrease 

1996-98 Salmonella 

4.9 

34% (ACSSuT, 1996) 1.7 

Typhimurium 

2004 29 2.9 41% decr 

rease 21% (ACSSuT, 2002) 06 0.6 65% 

decrease 

1996-98 Salmonella 

1.2 

8% (2 or more 

0.1 

Newport 


2004 1.7 41% increase 

25% (2 or more 0.4 300% 


increase 

1996-98 Campylobacter 18.7 

13% (ciprofloxacin 2.4 

resistance, 1997) 

2004 12.9 31% decrease 

20% (ciprofloxacin 2.6 8% increase 

resistance, 2002)

Relative rates compared with 1996-1998 baseline period of laboratory- 

diagnosed d cases of infection with th 

he six most commonly isolated 

Salmonella serotypes, by year – Foodborne Disease Active Surveillance 

Network, United States, 1996-2006

Risk Factors for Human Infection by 

Antibiotic-Resistant Foodborne Pathogens 

● 

● 

Very few data regarding food animal-to-human transfer of 

antimicrobial resistance to indicate more frequent or severe 

infections or increased morbidi 

ty and mortality 

Antimicrobial therapy is not necessary for recovery from most 

cases of foodborne illness 

▲ Most foodborne pathogens 

self-limiting limiting symptoms that 

typically cause mild to moderate 

resolve without treatment

Risk Factors for Human Infection by 

Antibiotic-Resistant Foodborne Pathogens 

● 

Most frequently identified risk factor for infection with antibiotic-resistant 

bacteria is prior exposure to antibiotics, including taking antibiotics for 

reasons other than foodborne illnesses 

▲ 

▲ 

Other risk factors are essentially the same as those for acquiring 

infections with antibiotic susceptible pathogens, which include: 

♦ Age (less than 5 or greater th 

han 50) 

♦ Pregnancy 

♦ Immunosuppression (chemotherapy, HIV infection, other illness) 

♦ Reduced liver or kidney funct 

tion 

Reasonable assumption the risk of treatment failure in immuno- 

microbial infections 

would be elevated 

compromised individuals with antibiotic-resistant

● 

Impact of Antibiotic 

cUse Use, Non-Use, and 

Resistance 

Human Health 

▲ Loss of treatment options or treatment failure for individuals seriously ill 

from antibiotic-resistant foodborne pathogen 

♦ Estimated that 40 – 50% of ho 

spitalized patients with salmonellosis 

are treated with antibiotics 

▲ Longer duration of illness when infected with antibiotic-resistant pathogen 

♦ Patients infected with fluoroqu 

inolone-resistant C. jejuni j had longer 

duration of illness than patients 

infected with fluoroquinolone-sensitive 

strains 

▲ Individuals infected with MDR microorganisms more likely to be 

hospitalized than those infected wi 

th antimicrobial-sensitive strains 

▲ Denmark study found death rates from MDR or quinolone-resistant cases 

of salmonellosis were 5 to 10 times 

greater than general population 

▲ In general, e there e is increased seve 

erity of illness associated ated with infections 

caused by antimicrobial-resistant pathogens

Impact of Antimicrobi 

ial Use, Non-Use, and 


● 

Trade 

▲ 

▲ 

Difference among big U.S. trading partners (e.g., Canada and South 

Korea) and its competitors (e.g., 

EU) in acceptable use of specific 

antibiotics for growth promotion 

♦ EU prohibits in feed for growth promotion use of antibiotics that are 

used in human medicine 

GAO reports to date antimicrobial resistance of microbes associated 

with antibiotic use in animals has 

not significantly affected U.S. trade in 

meat products 

♦ GAO indicates this issue may 

be a factor in the future, such as in 

EU which is phasing out by 2006 use of all antibiotics for growth 

promotion




● 

Economic 

▲ 

▲ 

A ban or partial ban on antibiotics 

in food animal production would 

increase costs to producers, decr 

rease production, and increase retail 

prices to consumers 

♦ Example, GAO (2004) estimated the elimination of antibiotic use in 

pork production would increa 

ase producer costs from $2.76 to $6.05 

per animal; increase consumer costs for pork from $180 million to 

$700 million per year 

■ Greatest financial a impact 

at producer level 

e 

Economic assessment of consequences of use in human medicine are 

essentially nonexistent




● 

Environmental 

▲ 

▲ 

Risks to human, animal or environmental health from the direct impact 

of antimicrobials on bacteria in aq 

quatic and terrestrial environments 

appear low 

♦ However, antimicrobial agents in ecosystems can lead to drastic 

alterations in biodiversity of affected ecosystems, reduction of 

microorganisms susceptible to agents, and development of 

antimicrobial resistance 

Overall, general e lack of knowledg 

ge and agreement e about the frequency 

and extent of occurrence, fate, and effects associated with 

antimicrobials entering the environment. It is difficult to assess 

environmental impact of use of antimicrobials.

Management of Antim 

microbials to Control 


● 

Responsible Use 

▲ 

▲ 

Guidelines exist for responsible use of antibiotics in veterinary and 

human medicine 

♦ Not merely reduced use because drugs offer valuable benefits 

when used appropriately 

■ Involves prescribing antim 

microbial therapy only when it is 

beneficial to the patient, targets therapy to desired pathogens 

and use of appropriate drug, and confines treatment duration 

Intent is to promote appropriate use of antibiotics, maximizing 

efficiency and minimizing resistance development

Risk Analysis for Regulatory Decisions 

on Antibiotic Usage 

● 

Regulatory environment in US 

SA is geared toward protecting 

ti 

the public from additional risk without consideration of 

benefits, hence emphasis on risk assessment 

▲ Not possible for regulatory 

agencies to judge between the 

benefits of antibiotic use for livestock and risks to the 

public 

♦ Therefore, regulators must reject any practice that 

appears to produce an apparent risk unless a 

demonstrated higher risk would appear upon rejection 

of the practice

Risk Analysis for Regulatory Decisions 

on Antibiotic Usage 

▲ Example, evidence that t there are significant ifi human health 

benefits from antibiotic use 

to prevent food animal disease 

♦ Subclinical disease infl 

uences levels of Salmonella and 

Campylobacter contamination of poultry carcasses 

■ Therefore, the risk of antibiotic use to control 

subclinical disease more than compensates for the 

human health benefit 

−Estimate that at 

least 40,000000 illness-days per 

year are prevented by continued use of 

virginiamycin to reduce bacterial illnesses in 

chicken flocks

Risk Analysis for Regulatory Decisions on 

Antimicrobial i Us 

sage: Example of 

Unintended Consequences? 

● 

Risk management action in Europe to eliminate use of 

antibiotics for feed efficiency and growth promotion may have 

resulted in increased intestinal disease in animals and 

concomitant use of more therapeutic antibiotics with resultant 

increase in resistance 

▲ Resistance among some pathogens (tet R S. Typhimurium, 

amp R S. Typhimurium, tet R C. jejuni, cry R C. jejuni, amp R E. 

coli) have increased in Europe

Risk Analysis for Regulatory Decisions on 

Antimicrobial i Us 

sage: Example of 

Unintended Consequences? 

▲ Example, Denmark banned in 1998 use of antibiotics for 

growth promotion of animals 

♦ Total use of antibiotics in 

animals in Denmark 

decreased 30% between 

1997 (before ban) and 2004, 

there was a 41% increase in therapeutic ti uses between 

1999 (after ban) and 2004 

■ Between ee 1999-2004, 

tet R and amp R of S. 

Typhimurium from pigs increased, from chickens 

increased from 0% in 

1997 to 17% in 2004 and from 

ill humans increased 

from 18% to 46%

Risk Analysis for Reg 

gulatory Decisions on 

Antimicrobial Usage 

● 

EU banned antibiotic use in feed for growth promotion on the 

basis of the precautionary principle which is employed when 

scientific information is insuffici 

ient, inconclusive or uncertain 

▲ Sweeping risk management 

measures that are proposed 

for a certain classification of 

use (e.g., growth promotion) 

can be draconian and without predictable results 

▲ Analysis would best be carried out on a case-by-case basis 

and driven by product-spec 

ific, science-based risk 

assessments

Risk Analysis – Expe 

ert Panel Conclusion 

● 

Expert Panel concludes that thorough risk assessments 

should be used to guide selection of risk management actions 

so that unintended consequenc 

ces are minimized

Conclusions 

● 

● 

Antibiotics are integral to food production, providing for good 

physical condition of crops and 

good health of food animals 

Antibiotics are used to treat, prevent and control disease 

among food animals and also improve feed utilization 

▲ Despite the utility of antibiotics in agriculture, the trend is to 

reduce usage because of use for any purpose selects for 

resistance

Conclusions 

● 

Antibiotic resistance among foodborne pathogens may create 

an increased burden to human 

health in the following ways: 

1. Resistant t pathogens contam 

minating food animals have the 

potential to reach humans 

2. Human use of antibiotics may increase the risk of acquiring 

an infection with an antimicrobial resistant pathogen 

3. Human infection with a resistant microbe may limit illness 

treatment t t options 

4. Antibiotic-resistant foodborne pathogens may develop 

increased virulence

Conclusions 

● 

● 

● 

Antibiotic-resistant intestinal bacteria may be present in food 

animals, regardless of exposure of the animals to an antibiotic 

Interventions that effectively reduce the prevalence of 

foodborne pathogens also reduce the prevalence of those that 

are resistant t to antibiotics 

Food scientists can influence preventing the spread of 

antibiotic-resistant (and sensitive) foodborne pathogens by 

preventing them from entering the food supply and, if present, 

inactivating them or preventing 

their growth

Conclusions 

● 

Selective pressure for the development of antimicrobial 

resistance occurs in the food system from production to 

processing, and in human med 

dical use 

▲ Given the different resistance mechanisms, conditions 

selecting for resistance, and 

dissemination patterns of 

resistant microorganism, a single approach to address 

the resistance issue to maximize the benefit of 

antimicrobials for society 

is not possible

Conclusions 

● 

Qualitative and quantitative risk 

assessments are being used 

to determine transfer of antibiotic resistance through the food 

chain resulting in human health 

h consequences 

▲ For many antibiotics such as tylosin, tilmocosin, and 

virginiamycin used in food animals, the estimated risk to 

human health is small 

▲ However, fluoroquinolone used to treat poultry disease 

through water was deemed 

by FDA as an unacceptable 

risk to human health and was withdrawn

Conclusions 

● 

● 

● 

Antibiotic-resistant intestinal bacteria may be present in food 

animals, regardless of exposure of the animals to an antibiotic 

Interventions that effectively reduce the prevalence of 

foodborne pathogens also reduce the prevalence of those that 

are resistant t to antibiotics 

Food scientists can influence preventing the spread of 

antibiotic-resistant (and sensitive) foodborne pathogens by 

preventing them from entering the food supply and, if present, 

inactivating them or preventing 

their growth

Conclusions 

● 

Risk management strategies to 

minimize and contain antibiotic- 

in place all along the food 

chain, but can be improved 

resistant foodborne bacteria are 

▲ The strategies implemented 

include use of antibiotic 

alternatives, implementation 

n of judicious or prudent 

antibiotic use guidelines, and implementation of national 

resistance monitoring programs

Conclusions 

● 

Regulatory targeting ti of specific antibi 

iotic-resistant i t t foodborne pathogens 

may not be the most successful or cost-effective means to reduce overall 

foodborne illness 

▲ 

▲ 

▲ 

A HACCP approach applied throughout the food chain is considered 

d 

the most effective measure to controlling foodborne pathogens and 

thereby reducing foodborne illnesses 

Most interventions, ti critical contro 

l points to kill or reduce foodborne 

pathogens are equally effective in 

controlling microbes regardless of 

their resistance to antibiotics 

Applying interventions ti to critical foodborne pathogens in general rather 

than focusing on antibiotic-resistant strains specifically would have the 

greatest impact in reducing foodborne illnesses

Specific Recommendations 

● 

The IFT Expert Panel concluded the following areas warrant attention or 

investigation: 

▲ 

▲ 

▲ 

The public health benefits as wel 

l as the risks of losing the efficacy of 

existing and future antimicrobials must be considered 

The public health impact of antimicrobial resistance should be 

determined on the basis of risk as 

ssessment, and resistance should be 

considered on the basis of an individual microorganism exposed to a 

specific agent under a specific condition of use 

Risk management age e strategies es sho 

uld be guided by the results of risk 

assessments


● 

● 

Prudent use of antimicrobials should be practiced to limit 

resistance selection and maintain maximal benefit. Prudent 

use does not necessarily corre 

late with reduced use; an 

unknown risk of maintaining use may be less than an equally 

unknown risk of reducing use 

Prudent use guidelines for antibiotics should be further 

developed


● 

● 

● 

Effective alternatives ti to antibiot 

tics should be explored 

Surveillance program and food attribution models should be 

explored as means for measuring the effectiveness of the food 

industry’s microbiological interventions 

The relationship of the use of specific antibiotics in food animal 

husbandry to resistance selection rates among major 

foodborne bacteria at slaughter 

should be determined and 

compared between farms where antibiotics are used and 

farms where antibiotics are not 

used


● 

Although it needs to be confirmed, information available to 

date indicates that validated microbial interventions used in 

food processing and in the hou 

use are equally effective for 

antimicrobial-susceptible and resistant microorganisms and 

should be used to prevent dissemination of foodborne 

pathogens

Web Site Address for Complete Report 

Comprehensive Reviews in Food 

Science and Food Safety 

http://members.ift.org/IFT/Pubs/CRFSFS/

MPD’s Additional Perspective 

● ca. 15% of foods consume 

ed in U.S. is imported 

▲ 83% of fresh and frozen 

seafood and fish 

♦ Most shrimp is aqua 

cultured in Southeast Asia 

▲ 45% of fresh fruits 

▲ 16% of fresh vegetables 

● Indiscriminant use of antibiotics in food production in 

some developing countries 

● Bottom line: Imported foods from some countries are 

likely to be important sourc 

ces of MDR microbes

● 

MDR Salmonella Paratyphi B var. Java 

Outbreak 

in Cattle 

MDR S. Java outbreak occurredincattleintheUnited 

the Kingdom 

▲ MDR S. Java associated with tropical fish from Thailand 

put in cattle drinking water 

tanks to control algae 

♦ Thailand aquaculture does not normally apply 

antibiotics directly to ponds 

■ Fish are fed chicken 

manure and chickens are fed 

antibiotics 

−Antibiotics induc 

cing drug resistance likely 

present in chicken feces fed to fish 

John Threlfall, Society for General Microbiology Annual 

Meeting, Edinburgh, Scotland, April 2005

Food Safety Trends – Food Imports 

● Increased importation of foods and food 

ingredients 

▲Includes from countries having production 

and processing cond 

ditions below U.S. 

standards

China as Example 

of Questionable 

● Issues 

Food and Food Ingredient Source 

▲ Farmers rely on heavy use of chemicals to deal 

with pest pressures, and 

antibiotics are widely used 

to control disease in livestock, poultry and 

aquaculture 

♦ Use many highly toxic pesticides, including 

some that are banned in U.S. 

♦ Farm chemicals are sometimes mislabeled and 

inappropriately used 

http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/November06/Features/FoodSafety.htm




♦ Some farmers have 

little understanding of 

correct chemical use, resulting in excessive 

residues in harvested product 

♦ Industrialization and 

lax environmental 

controls contribute 

t 

to heavy metal 

contamination of foods




▲ Untreated human and animal wastes are applied 

to fields directly and through irrigation water 

♦ Results in food contamination ti with Salmonella 

ll 

and harmful microorganisms

Examples of U.S. FDA 

Detentions of Food and 

Food Ingredients from China (February 2007) 

Food/Ingredient 

Contaminant 

Dried Pepper Powder 

Ginseng Extract Powder 

IQF Pea Pods 

IQF Soybeans 

Frozen Grilled Eel 

IQF Breaded Shrimp 

Salmonella 

Pesticides 

Pesticides 

Pesticides 

Veterinary Drugs 

Veterinary Drugs

Examples of U.S. FDA 

Detentions of Food and 

Food Ingredients from China (March 2007) 


Contaminant 

Fresh Ginger 

Ground Chili Powder 

Ginseng 

Mandarin Oranges 

Red Melon Seeds 

Pumpkin Seeds 

Pesticides 

Salmonella 

Pesticides 

Pesticides 

Aflatoxin 

Salmonella

Examples of U.S. FDA Detentions of Food and 

Food Ingredients from 

India (March 2007) 


Contaminant 

Turmeric Powder 

Salmonella 

Creamy Peanut Butter 

Pesticides, Aflatoxin 

“Richfield” Creamy Peanut Butter 

Pesticides, id Aflatoxin 

Pista Burfee Fried Snack Food 

Salmonella 

All In One Snack Food 

Salmonella 

Red Chili Powder 

Salmonella 

Chili Powder 

Salmonella 

Coriander Powder 

Salmonella 

Spices – Cumin Whole 

Salmonella 

Black Pepper 

Salmonella 

ll 

Sesame Seeds 

Pesticides

Country of origin of spices imported by the United States, 

by weight, for fiscal year 2003 

Nation 

China 

Honduras 

Mexico 

Lebanon 

Peru 

India 

Chile 

Spain 

Morocco 

Argentina 

V. Vij et al. 2006. J. Food Protect. 69 

9:233-237 

237 

Amt (10 9 kg) 

237.5 

20.9 

11.0 

3.3 

1.3 

10 1.0 

0.73 

0.34 

0.32 

0.26

Do Not Rely on Federal or State 

Food/Ingredient Inspection to Detect 

Harmful Microbes or Chemicals 

● FDA samples and tests less than 1% of food 

imports under its jurisdict 

tion 

● USDA inspects only ca. 20% of meat and poultry 

imports 

● Wheat gluten contaminated with melamine from 

China used in pet food 

▲ Not originally detectedd by FDA

Impact of Wheat Gluten 

Incident on Menu Foods 

Dr. Doyle, 

I recently saw a video on MSN of an interview you did on food 

safety. I want to thank you for your accuracy and clear 

information about the adulterated Chinese wheat gluten that 

has been responsible for the several pet food recalls over the 

last 3 weeks. 

I am a UGA graduate (BSA 77, MS 79) and am Executive Vice 

President of Menu Foods, whichh you correctly referenced as 

the first company to identify the 

health risk and initiate the 

recall. So much of the press has been negative and more 

often than not, inaccurate. It was great to see someone who 

got it right!

Impact of Wheat Gluten 

Incident on Menu Foods 

For our efforts in coming forward with the facts we are 

looking at $40 million + in dire 

ect cost, more than 40 class 

action law suits (so far) and a possible congressional 

committee hearing. Still we know we did the right thing. 

Again, thank you for your clear, professional portrayal of the 

situation with food safety and imported food products. 

Randall C. Copeland 

Executive Vice President, Sales 

and Marketing 

Menu Foods

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