Last week I reported that a second case of mad cow disease
was suspected, but that the USDA had been dragging its feet since last
November on retesting the animal�s brain with more sophisticated tests.
Finally, a few weeks ago, after the USDA Inspector General ordered the
department to conduct further tests, the samples were sent to the
International BSE Laboratory in Weybridge, England. Confirmation came on
Friday from Weybridge. Yes, the animal had bovine spongiform
encephalopathy.
US Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said that human
health was never at risk. The animal was a �downer,� meaning it was too
sick to walk and that such animals are banned from the food supply. True,
there is a ban, but somehow I don�t trust the meat industry to always
follow the ban. And while the government may keep assuring us that such
animals don�t go into the human food supply, they do go into animal feed
where the prions that cause mad cow disease are passed on to other
animals. Downers do go into pet food, and cats have developed feline
spongiform encephalopathy from eating tainted food.
Despite continual assurances from the federal government,
our food supply and our companion animals� food supply is not safe, it
hasn�t been for years, ever since the government began allowing the meat
industry to police itself.
For more information on mad cow disease, please go to
http://www.organicconsumers.org/madcow.htm
Dr. Michael Greger is the Mad Cow Coordinator for the
Organic Consumers Association and the Chief BSE Investigator for Farm
Sanctuary�s www.nodowners.org and our guest this week on ACT Radio.
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