Ethanol Pros and Cons: Energy Independence, But Poison Burgers

One of the great side-benefits of turning corn into ethanol is that the ethanol plants also produce distiller's grain, which makes good cattle feed. Feed your car, feed your cows. Heck of a deal!

But then along come those darn scientists, having to point out the downside: AP reports that Kansas State University researchers have found cattle fed distiller's grain are twice as likely to carry deadly E. coli 0157. E coli -- that's that bacteria that causes 73,000 infections and 61 deaths each year [AP, "Cattle Fed Distiller's Grain More Prone to E. Coli," KELOLand.com, 2007.12.06].

You can read more about the KSU research in the Grand Island Independent and the Austin American-Statesman (where Dave Ray of the meatpackers' lobbying group American Meat Institute attempts to poo-poo the real-world significance of this finding -- like what, Dave, 61 more people dying?). You can also contact the KSU researchers, Professor of Microbiology T. J. Nagaraja and Professor of Animal Sciences Jim Drouillard for more information.

Keep that grill set on high -- I'll take my steak crisp.