Risk Profile on Non-O157 Verotoxin-Producing Escherichia Coli in Produce, Beef, Milk and Dairy Products in Canada

This risk profile on non-O157 verotoxin-producing coli serotypes (non-O157 VTEC) in produce, beef, and dairy products in Canada, outlines associated public health threats, while identifying areas where data are required to inform microbiological risk and risk management action. The following of this risk profile may contribute to risk analysis to non-O157 VTEC in Canada:• Beef products, milk and dairy products, and produce all food commodities associated with non-O157 outbreaks. Some non-O157 VTEC may cause illnesses similar to E. coli O157:H7, in general, non-O157 VTEC cause less illness or lead to asymptomatic infections. In absence of epidemiological evidence (i.e., the to show that the detected bacteria has caused illness in humans), the ability to the health concern of isolates, is limited.• Non-O157 VTEC serogroups most commonly in human infections differ between. In Canada, the top six non-O157 VTEC associated with serious illness are: O26,103, O111, O117, O121, and O145.• The dose-response(s) for non-O157 VTEC in beef, milk and dairy, and produce as groups is not possible to determine.• VTEC are defined by the production of verotoxins. virulence factors are associated with clinical of non-O157 VTEC and may indicate an threat to human health, but a common profile for pathogenic VTEC has not been.• The government of Canada commissioned the VTEC Working Group to develop detection isolation methods for non-O157 VTEC as an regulatory response to support the reporting of-O157 VTEC in foods. A Canadian VTEC method developed by Health Canada and the Food Inspection Agency is being used to the presence of non-O157 VTEC in food.