Palo Duro Meat, an Amarillo, Texas, establishment, is recalling 40,000 pounds of frozen fine ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today that it is taking new steps to fight E. coli and protect the safety of the American food supply.

The recent outbreak in Europe of E. coli has, as one would expect, created fears and trepidation in a world of already weary consumers.

Nebraska Beef Ltd. has reached a settlement with Meyer Natural Foods LLC over liability for a 2008 beef recall, according to an order filed late Friday in the federal case. A trial had been set for next month, reports the Associated Press.

During the spring of 1993, in the midst of the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak, the Secretary of Agriculture asked me how many federally inspected beef plants in the United States had voluntarily implemented HACCP. I had to tell him that out of almost 7,000 plants, less than 500 were practicing HACCP.