Ascophyllum nodosum Supplementation: A Preharvest Intervention for Reducing Escherichia coli O157:h7 and Salmonella spp. in Feedlot Steers

A study published in the Journal of Food Protection demonstrated that supplementing cattle diets with Ascophyllum nodosum (Tasco®) for just 14 days prior to harvest can significantly reduce harmful bacteria associated with foodborne illness.
Cattle receiving Tasco showed:
- A 36% reduction on hides of E. coli O157:H7, the highly pathogenic strain, compared to pre-supplementation levels.
- Lower levels of Salmonella compared to unsupplemented cattle post-feeding.
These reductions are important because cattle are a natural reservoir for these pathogens, which can enter the food chain during processing.