Read the stories

• USDA knew of risks, yet imposed no rules March 25, 2012 The federal agency responsible for the safety of the nation's beef supply has known for 14 years that retailers' poor record keeping jeopardizes public health, but it failed to require better standards.
• Here's what we know – and what we'll never know March 25, 2012 On the night before Halloween, Danielle Wadsworth made tacos for dinner at her Lewiston home. A week later, she was hooked up to two IVs at Central Maine Medical Center as doctors debated whether she needed a blood transfusion. How did this happen?
• Silent treatment: USDA frustrates Maine lawmakers during outbreak March 25, 2012 Extracting relevant information from the federal agency overseeing food safety proves challenging, even for leaders on key committees.
• In Search of Contamination (infographic) March 25, 2012
• A TIMELINE OF THE OUTBREAK March 25, 2012
• Largest Meat Recalls Since 1994 (infographic) March 25, 2012
• Public health 'detectives' tracked clues to illness' cause March 25, 2012 Discovering salmonella was just the beginning. Investigators found victims, patterns, genetic fingerprints – and a complex mystery.
• Close to home: Neighborhood butcher has new appeal March 25, 2012 Buying meat and produce locally doesn't guarantee they're any safer, but there's comfort in knowing the food source is near at hand.
• Handle with care: Many people ignore guidelines March 25, 2012 Industry rules can only go so far, food safety experts say, and can't protect consumers from themselves.
• SLIDE SHOW: Cook safely, eat safely March 25, 2012