Discover how an outbreak of the deadly bacteria E. coli in 1993 led to a public health crisis and controversy about food safety, in these videos excerpted from FRONTLINE: The Trouble with Chicken. When four children died after eating undercooked hamburger at a fast food restaurant, food safety regulations were overhauled. E. coli was declared an “adulterant” and banned from food. Yet salmonella, another foodborne bacterium which sickens and kills, was not. This has led to conflicts among the meat and poultry industries, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the legal system, and Congress as to who is responsible for ensuring food safety. This resource is part of the FRONTLINE Collection.

Download teacher support materials for this resource:

Teaching Tips  |  Student Handout  |  Background Essay  |  Vocabulary and Terms  |  Video Transcript