Jean-Louis:
> > OK, there is the story of E. Coli, but it concerns only GROUND steaks.

 Chet:
>  I believe E.coli does not limit itself to living in ground
> meat, though the Hudson recall did focus on that variety of flesh.
> Are you suggesting E.coli only exists in ground flesh?

As I am working on exaxctly these types of E. coli I'd like to
jump in and mention that they come from fecal contamination of the flesh. That
means they are spread over the surface of a piece of meat but NOT
within it. However, grinding spreads them trough the whole piece and
as they now have oxygen through and through they can happily multiply
and comtaminate it. So, in short words: if you want to
have a rare steak, no problem. But, a hamburger not well done can be
a serious danger, at least to children and old people.

Take care,  Sylvia