I wouldn't go so far as to describe food contaminated with E.coli "perfectly good'.
E. coli is ubiquitous in our environment and food, particularly anything grown in the dirt, and harmless to all but those with immune system dysfunction (who are susceptible to everything). How do you think it gets into our intestinal tracts which are sterile at birth and becomes our normal flora? From hands, food, or your mum's teet.
Even most illness-producing serotypes or strains of E. coli produce only mild to moderate gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, and fever, very unlikely to be fatal or even require medical treatment provided the individual stays hydrated and has no immune system problems (it will resolve in its own course like many other agents of foodborn illness).
In fact, the CDC recommends against treating persons with antibiotics unless more severe complications develop because the illness will resolve on its own. Instead, it recommends Immodium for the diarrhea and water to prevent dehydration.
Only specific strains of E. coli (e.g. O157:H7) are unusually virulent or pathogenic, producing a dangerous toxin that can cause organ failure and destruction of blood cells.
In all cases, proper refrigeration of meat prevents toxin accumlation by the highly virulent strains and proper COOKING renders all strains of E. coli quite dead and harmless at an easily attainable 165'F. Most cases of illness are linked to undercooked meat, not inadequate refrigeration.
Only foods that are not customarily cooked need be recalled and thrown away if contamination is suspected or known (spinach, lettuce, alfalfa sprouts, et.al.). Bacterial contamination is a ubiquitous fact of life (whether one knows it or not).