PRESS RELEASE: VeriPrime Food Safety Cooperative Hires Burson-Marsteller to Promote Food Safety Campaign

28th Jul 2010 16:08

WICHITA, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 28, 2010-- VeriPrime Beef Food Safety Cooperative today announced it has hired Burson-Marsteller, a leading global public relations and communications firm, to promote its efforts to eradicate E. coli from our nation's food supply. "Each year more than 73,000 people in the United States suffer the consequences of exposure to E. coli through food," said Dr. Scott Crain, CEO of VeriPrime. "That's 73,000 too many, especially when advances in science now enable us to significantly decrease the risks to our food supply." VeriPrime is a food safety cooperative that is focused on prevention. The cooperative is made up of cattlemen who own land, cattle and feeding facilities across the nation's heartland, representing 70 percent of the nation's cattle feeding facilities. Cattle owners are the front line in the food safety chain--taking the first steps in guarding food safety. "We are excited to work with VeriPrime on this important program for food safety," said Karen Hughes, Global Vice Chair of Burson-Marsteller. "Burson's deep experience in developing evidence-based communications programs will help educate Americans about the benefits of putting these food safety initiatives into action." VeriPrime is poised to build on the growing national momentum to enhance food safety measures. In May, the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service published guidance for beef slaughter establishments that is in line with the standards that VeriPrime has been advocating since it was founded in 2003. By working collaboratively with cattle producers, processors and retailers, VeriPrime's mission is to make E. coli a thing of the past. About VeriPrime VeriPrime is a member-owned federation of cooperatives that includes all food chain participants. VeriPrime Beef Food Safety Cooperative members are cattlemen that own land, cattle, and feeding facilities across the nation's heartland. Our cooperative was organized so we could work together to produce and market better, safer beef. Find out more about us at www.veriprime.com. About Burson-Marsteller Burson-Marsteller (www.burson-marsteller.com), established in 1953, is a leading global public relations and communications firm. It provides clients with strategic thinking and program execution across a full range of public relations, public affairs, advertising and web-related services. The firm's seamless worldwide network consists of 68 offices and 71 affiliate offices, together operating in 98 countries across six continents. Burson-Marsteller is a part of Young & Rubicam Brands, a subsidiary of WPP (NASDAQ: WPPGY), one of the world's leading communications services networks. CONTACT: Burson-Marsteller Jenifer Sarver, 512-879-0990 [email protected] SOURCE: Burson-Marsteller Copyright Business Wire 2010 Order free Annual Report for WPP Group PLC Visit http://djnweurope.ar.wilink.com/?ticker=JE00B3DMTY01 or call +44 (0)208 391 6028 (END) Dow Jones Newswires July 28, 2010 11:08 ET (15:08 GMT)