The Meat Institute is reassuring consumers that meat remains safe to eat following the recent detection of New World Screwworm (NWS) in a calf in Texas.
In a statement released after the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed the case, Meat Institute President and CEO Julianna Potts emphasized that the parasite does not pose a food safety risk.
“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.
New World Screwworm is a parasitic fly that can cause severe health problems for livestock. The pest lays eggs in open wounds, and the resulting larvae feed on living tissue, potentially causing serious injury or death if left untreated.
The Meat Institute said it is encouraging meat industry members to work closely with local, state, and federal officials to detect, contain, and eliminate the pest.
The organization is also asking regulators to consider allowing low-risk livestock movements for slaughter in order to maintain normal processing operations while response efforts continue.
Agriculture officials continue to monitor the situation as efforts are underway to prevent the spread of the parasite and protect livestock health.