E coli is one of the primary causes of product recalls. In this interesting article, the NYT traces some of the problems in the US food safety chain as specifically applied to ground beef.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/04/health/04meat.html?_r=1&hp

An update to our story. The earlier NYT report has already spurred changes in the industry.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/08/health/08meat.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=costco&st=cse