Researchers at Kansas State University say cattle fed a valuable byproduct of ethanol production are twice as likely to carry a potentially deadly strain of E. coli bacteria.

The research has far-reaching food safety implications. Ethanol plants are often built next to feedlots because distillers grain is a good animal feed.

The study tested the prevalence of E. coli 0157 in cattle as well as the carcass quality of cattle fed distiller's grain. Researchers reached their conclusions after three rounds of testing.

The Centers for Disease Control say the United States has about 73,000 cases of E. coli infection and 61 deaths each year.

Kansas is the nation's second largest beef feeding state with 2.4 million cattle on feed as of November 1st.