The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced this week that it will be expanding its inspections of the nation's food supply to protect consumers from potential E. coli contamination.

The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service will be testing for six additional serogroups of E. coli found in raw beef beginning March 5, 2012.

Products that contain the new pathogens will be prohibited from being sold to the public.

The new program is part of the Obama administration's commitment to protecting America's food supply and preventing outbreaks before they occur.