The Meat Institute is reassuring consumers that meat remains safe following the recent detection of New World Screwworm in a Texas calf.
In a statement released after USDA confirmed the case, Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts emphasized that the pest does not pose a food safety risk.
New World screwworm is a parasitic fly that can cause serious health problems for livestock by laying eggs in open wounds.
“American consumers need to know that New World Screwworm is not a food safety concern, and that meat and poultry products are safe to consume,” Potts said.
The organization is encouraging meat industry members to work closely with local, state, and federal officials to detect and eliminate the pest.
The Meat Institute is asking regulators to consider allowing low-risk livestock movements for slaughter to help maintain processing operations while response efforts continue.
