In this webinar, Dr. Jessie Vipham will share findings from research examining how Salmonella contamination in beef trim and lymph nodes influences pathogen levels throughout grinding and refrigerated storage. Attendees will learn why initial contamination levels are a key predictor of final product risk, how processing and storage affect Salmonella dynamics, and how upstream interventions and trim-based monitoring can help identify and manage elevated-risk product. In addition, the presentation will explore the potential consumer impact of low-, medium-, and high-level contamination scenarios, highlighting how varying pathogen loads can influence public health outcomes, risk assessment, recall decisions, and consumer confidence. By connecting contamination dynamics with downstream consumer implications, this session will offer practical insights for strengthening food safety strategies across the ground beef supply chain and improving risk-based decision making.