Consumers Union comments on the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food Safety and Inspection Service’s (FSIS) policy to start sampling and testing raw beef and beef components (e.g. trim,) for six serogroups of Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC). We commend FSIS for this sampling and testing policy,and strongly agree with thetm that these six non-O157 STEC should be classified as adulterants when found in non-intact raw beef products and product components.