Salmonella is considered one of the most prevalent pathogens
causing serious illness and death in the United States (CDC, 2011).
The risk of Salmonella contamination in fresh ground beef is of
particular concern due to the lack of a substantive lethality step
during production. Ground and comminuted products, such as fresh
ground beef and beef patties, are at particular risk because exterior
lean and fat trimmings are mixed, allowing surface pathogens to be
internalized in the final product. With the exception of irradiation