It's not a question you want to hear from the kid behind the fast-food counter. But because of a loophole in the way the U.S. Department of Agriculture regulates beef processing, it is, we regret to report, a realistic question.

It seems that the USDA deems it OK for meat suppliers to cook and sell beef that has been found to be contaminated by E. coli bacteria. As long as the tainted beef is put aside in a "cook only" category during processing, then pre-cooked to a temperature that will kill the bacterium, everything's cool.

At least that's what a number of angry USDA meat inspectors told The Chicago Tribune. Naturally, the inspectors didn't want to be identified for fear of losing their jobs.

E. coli O157:H7 is a particularly virulent strain of bacterium that lives in the guts of some beef cattle, especially those fattened on corn. It can contaminate meat when cattle feces come in contact with the meat during improper slaughter. In humans, the bacterium can cause poisoning that results in severe stomach cramps, bloody urine and diarrhea, kidney failure and even death.

If you are reading this editorial over breakfast, we apologize.

But it is important for you to know that your government's policy is to allow the sale of beef on which E. coli has been detected, so long as that beef is pre-cooked by the processor to kill the germs. Once cooked, it's OK to sell the meat as pre-cooked hamburgers, meat loaf, crumbled taco meat and other products, according to the Chicago Tribune story. The Salt Lake Tribune carried the story in its Sunday edition.

We believe this policy is outrageous.

Some of the federal inspectors interviewed by The Chicago Tribune believe that the "cook only" policy leads the USDA to tolerate higher levels of E. coli contamination in meatpacking plants, and that may be part of the reason for the more frequent incidents of E. coli contamination in U.S. food this year.

Earlier this month, the USDA announced that General Mills Operations recalled about 3.3 million pounds of frozen meat pizza products marketed under the Totino's and Jeno's brands that were linked to illnesses caused by E. coli in 10 states in the East, South and Midwest.

Hold the feces, please.