When well wrapped, ground beef can be frozen for up to six to nine months. It may contribute to reducing cross contamination, but is not likely to eliminate all avenues of potential contamination. Food safety is a responsibility we all share. There are many checks within the system, but it is the person who cooks the food that has the final opportunity to put a safe, properly cooked product on the table. Melvin Hunt is professor of meat science in the department of animal sciences and industry, Kansas State University.
Current research focuses on meat color and color doneness.