The State News, the student newspaper of Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan, today reports that students on MSU’s meal plan craving a hamburger or sausage patty will have to look elsewhere.

The story says that the university has pulled all ground beef products from cafeterias in response to a call from its meat supplier, who is testing its beef for E. coli contamination.

According to an Oct. 5 report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are 32 cases of foodborne illnesses under investigation in eight states. No cases were under investigation in Michigan.

Mike Rice, director of Auxiliary Services, was cited as saying pulling the ground beef was a voluntary effort. No beef shipped to MSU has been proven to be contaminated with E. coli.

“Whatever it takes to keep the beef safe, that’s what we’ve got to do,” Rice was quoted as saying.

Vennie Gore, assistant vice president for Housing and Food Services, was cited as saying that he expects the testing to be complete in the next few days.

Until then, chicken burgers and other alternatives will replace the ground beef products.
“We’d rather be safe than sorry,” Gore added.