A fresh look at strengthening regulations to protect the nation’s meat supply is being prompted by the first known U.S. outbreak linked to a rare strain of E. coli in ground beef.

After consuming ground beef that was from a Cargill plant in Wyalusing, Pa. Cargill Meat Solutions, a subsidiary of Minneapolis-based Cargill Inc., three people in Maine and New York became ill this summer.

This led to a recall of about 8,500 pounds of ground beef on Saturday. Consumers were also warned by regulators that they must not consume any meat purchased at BJ's Wholesale Clubs in eight eastern states.

Interest in expanding federal oversight of meat beyond the most prevalent strain of E. coli. has been signaled by Dr. Elisabeth Hagen, who was appointed undersecretary of food safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture nine days before the recall.

Hagen said, "In order to best prevent illnesses and deaths from dangerous E. coli in beef, our policies need to evolve to address a broader range of these pathogens."

Thousands of illnesses take place in the U.S. every year due to E. coli contamination in foods.