Kuwait takes precautions against E. coli outbreak from US beef

The Kuwaiti ministry of health collected meat samples of imported beef on August 19 from various shops and stores in Kuwait and sent them to a laboratory examination to test for bacterial contamination.

The measure was taken after the United States found hundreds of tons of ground beef patties contaminated with the dangerous E. coli bacteria. The meat was processed by the Hudson foods company, which supplies hamburgers to a number of restaurant chains.

The bacteria can cause severe abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhea and dehydration. It can be fatal to children and the elderly. No deaths have so far been reported in the US, but 16 people were sickened by the bacteria.