"Will USDA Food Safety Plan Squeeze Out the Little Guy?"

"With the recent re-emergence of E. coli in national headlines -- the potentially deadly bacterium was found in Arizona lettuce in May and forced a massive California beef recall in December -- U.S. regulators are under renewed pressure by public health advocates to stop the outbreaks.

But in its latest effort to combat tainted food, the U.S. Department of Agriculture faces vocal opposition from a different quarter: small producers, who say tougher federal regulations might put some of them out of business.

At issue are proposed new rules for slaughterhouses that call for intensive testing of all meats. Small operators say they don't have the resources to comply. "

Dave Thier reports for AOLNews May 25, 2010.