E. coli is most often found in which of the following foods?

E. coli is most often associated with raw ground beef due to the way it is processed and handled. Ground beef can become contaminated with E. coli during the slaughtering process if the bacteria are present in the intestines of the cattle. Unlike whole cuts of meat, grinding exposes a larger surface area to bacteria and can spread the contamination throughout the meat. This is why it’s crucial to cook ground beef thoroughly to a safe internal temperature to eliminate harmful bacteria.

In contrast, cheese, chicken salad, and canned foods are less commonly linked to E. coli outbreaks. Cheese products can be affected by other pathogens, chicken salad typically involves cooked chicken which should not carry E. coli if handled correctly, and canned foods are processed in a way that typically destroys bacteria. Therefore, raw ground beef stands out as the primary source of E. coli in the context of food safety.