This risk profile provides current scientific information relevant to this issue, i.e. whether certain enterohemorrhagic Shiga toxin producing serotypes of E. coli, including non-O157 serotypes, can be considered as adulterants, analogous to E. coli O157, within the meaning of the FMIA. When considering non-O157 STEC, first, the term “enterohemorrhagic Shiga toxin producing serotypes of E. coli, including non-O157 serotypes” needed to be more clearly defined. Second, FSIS wanted to determine if this group of organisms was likely to be present in beef produced by establishments under its jurisdiction. Third, FSIS sought to examine the claim that this group of organisms represented an unusual and urgent food safety problem comparable to that posed by E. coli O157:H7.