WASHINGTON— In response to news that 5.7 million pounds of beef sold to consumers in recent months may be contaminated with potentially deadly E. coli bacteria, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) is offering a free 16-page Vegetarian Starter Kit to worried carnivores.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on Saturday that United Food Group has greatly expanded an existing recall of contaminated meat, which has already been blamed for an E. coli outbreak in Western states that has resulted in at least 14 illnesses in recent months.

In the United States, more E. coli infections have been caused by eating ground beef than any other food. Meat can become contaminated during animal slaughter, when E. coli bacteria can spread to various cuts of meat, equipment, and workers' hands. Animal agriculture can also contaminate vegetable crops, as occurred last year when spinach tainted with E. coli by manure from a nearby cattle ranch killed three people.

Escherichia coli 0157:H7 is responsible for approximately 60 deaths and more than 70,000 infections per year in the United States. Avoiding meat can reduce the risk of E. coli infection. Vegetarian eating habits also eliminate animal fat and cholesterol, which have been linked to heart disease, one of America’s top killers.

"It is time to kick the meat habit," says PCRM president and nutrition researcher Neal Barnard, M.D. "In addition to the risk of E. coli, the fat, cholesterol and cancer-causing agents in meat, chicken, pork, and other animal products are devastating to public health. Vegetarians enjoy lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, and a number of other diseases."

PCRM's kit explains everything someone needs to adopt a vegetarian diet and includes plenty of great recipes. To request a free copy, consumers should contact PCRM at 202-686-2210, ext. 306, or write literature@pcrm.org. The kit is also available online at www.GoVegetarian.org. A Spanish-language version can be found at www.HazTeVegetariano.org. For an interview with Dr. Barnard or a PCRM dietitian, contact Patrick Sullivan at 510-834-8680 or psullivan@pcrm.org.

Founded in 1985, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is a nonprofit health organization that promotes preventive medicine, especially good nutrition. PCRM also conducts clinical research studies, opposes unethical human experimentation, and promotes alternatives to animal research.