If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
U.S. plans a major reduction in its BSE testing
http://calgary.cbc.ca/regional/servl...w-usda20050414
U.S. denies having 2 BSE cases in 1997 Last Updated Apr 14 2005 08:18 AM MDT CBC News WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Agriculture admits there were problems with the samples taken from two cows in 1997, but insists the animals did not have mad cow disease. Ron DeHaven, administrator of the USDA's Animal and Plant Inspection Service, said that while key parts of the animals' brains needed to make an accurate diagnosis were missing and not tested, it was better to test what they had. "We had two choices: run the tests with the samples that we had, or not run them at all," DeHaven said "If we had something to hide, we could make an argument for not running the samples at all. "In this case, we chose to run the samples with the tissues that we had and subject them to three different tests to compensate for the fact that we may not have the perfect tissues." For years Canadian cattle producers have been suspicious about U.S. claims that it has only found one cow affected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy - and that the one animal had been born in Canada. The cow, sent south from Leduc, was diagnosed in December 2003 in Washington state. Three other Canadian-born animals have tested positive for BSE. The first case, confirmed in May 2003, saw the U.S. shut its border to Canadian beef. It was to reopen last month, but an American ranchers' group obtained a temporary injunction. CBC News uncovered a USDA video showing what USDA veterinarians feared might be two cases of mad cow disease in the U.S. The official tests were negative. But CBC news uncovered documents showing key areas of the cow's brain, in both cases, were never tested. FROM APRIL 13, 2005: Concerns raised about 1997 U.S. mad cow tests Retired USDA scientist Karl Langheinrich says without those tests, American authorities will never be able to rule out mad cow disease. "It means you cannot make a diagnosis, a specific diagnosis," he said. Rick Paskal, who runs a feedlot near Iron Springs and has fought to have the U.S. border reopened, says the news is frustrating. "It just enrages me, this double standard that they have set on the North American continent," he said. "We need to ensure to the consumers that our beef is safe. "And when people within the USDA, their own people are questioning their own organization as to whether some of the protocols were followed or not followed, then my goodness, it doesn't speak for their system." Bill Donald, president of the Montana Stockgrowers Association, says the important thing is that the U.S. has been diligent in its testing for the last 14 months. "I think this increased testing that's being done right now is more meaningful than some tests in 1997, where they thought they had some problems with the samples," he said. Rob McNabb, of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association, says his organization wants the USDA to investigate. "What we would fully expect is that the USDA address the allegations," he said. One of the USDA's top officials said that the U.S. testing program was never designed to catch every single case of mad cow disease, but to measure how much disease there is. After testing thousands of animals the USDA believes if BSE exists, it's at a very low level. Next year, the U.S. plans a major reduction in its BSE testing program, from a high of 300,000 animals to just 40,000. ******* I hope they implement an Country of Origin Labeling program in North America for beef. I am only buying Canadian Beef. At least then I know that they are doing all they can to properly deal with all cases of BSE, unlike in the US where they are trying to hide it from their own consumers. TC |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
wrote in message ups.com... http://calgary.cbc.ca/regional/servl...w-usda20050414 ******* I hope they implement an Country of Origin Labeling program in North America for beef. I am only buying Canadian Beef. At least then I know that they are doing all they can to properly deal with all cases of BSE, unlike in the US where they are trying to hide it from their own consumers. TC It's a shame that the Canadian cattle industry is being decimated while many people in the beef industry suspect the problem is not confined by a border. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
" It's a shame that the Canadian cattle industry is being decimated
while many people in the beef industry suspect the problem is not confined by a border. " I suspect that you're an asshole too, but that's just suspicion too, though clearly more justifiable. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
" It's a shame that the Canadian cattle industry is being decimated
while many people in the beef industry suspect the problem is not confined by a border. " I suspect that you're an asshole too, but that's just suspicion too, though clearly more justifiable. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
|
#6
|
|||
|
|||
wrote in message oups.com... " It's a shame that the Canadian cattle industry is being decimated while many people in the beef industry suspect the problem is not confined by a border. " I suspect that you're an asshole too, but that's just suspicion too, though clearly more justifiable. The U.S. should be suspicious enough to test it's cattle. The U.S. beef market is about 7 times larger than Canada's. What do you think the chances are of isolating the disease to one small locale, given the free trade of live cattle ( before border closing ), and the fact that it takes years before it is detected? |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Tom G wrote: wrote in message oups.com... " It's a shame that the Canadian cattle industry is being decimated while many people in the beef industry suspect the problem is not confined by a border. " I suspect that you're an asshole too, but that's just suspicion too, though clearly more justifiable. The U.S. should be suspicious enough to test it's cattle. The U.S. beef market is about 7 times larger than Canada's. What do you think the chances are of isolating the disease to one small locale, given the free trade of live cattle ( before border closing ), and the fact that it takes years before it is detected? The number of cattle in the US is about 11 times greater than Canada's and for all intents and purposes they are so integrated as to be un-divisible. Thousands of cattle go back and forth across the border every year, or I should say, used to go across the border every year. At least one of the BSE infected cows originated in the US. TC |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
wrote in message ps.com... Tom G wrote: wrote in message oups.com... " It's a shame that the Canadian cattle industry is being decimated while many people in the beef industry suspect the problem is not confined by a border. " I suspect that you're an asshole too, but that's just suspicion too, though clearly more justifiable. The U.S. should be suspicious enough to test it's cattle. The U.S. beef market is about 7 times larger than Canada's. What do you think the chances are of isolating the disease to one small locale, given the free trade of live cattle ( before border closing ), and the fact that it takes years before it is detected? The number of cattle in the US is about 11 times greater than Canada's O.K. and for all intents and purposes they are so integrated as to be un-divisible. That's why many believe the problem is more wide spread. Thousands of cattle go back and forth across the border every year, or I should say, used to go across the border every year. At least one of the BSE infected cows originated in the US. Isolating the disease, when found, is a good thing. It would be foolish for one to believe that it's only a Canadian problem. TC |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
"Tom G" wrote in message news:T2B7e.1011781$Xk.686081@pd7tw3no... The U.S. should be suspicious enough to test it's cattle. Not particularly.....if out of millions of cows you consistantly get no disease....testing and the expence is rather pointless. There are many ways to get sick or die.... at some point probability is a reasonable marker in determining which test to run and how often. The U.S. beef market is about 7 times larger than Canada's. What do you think the chances are of isolating the disease to one small locale, Very good given the free trade of live cattle ( before border closing ), and the fact that it takes years before it is detected? The contaminated cows came from specific contaminated feed ......localized in Canada as well as eventually the U.S......appropriate steps have been taken to avoid this danger in the future especially following Britains much larger problem etc.....By law in 1997 animal feed requirements were tightened.....Besides most beef cattle do not live a long life (30 months or less)....the only old cattle still possibly left are only ground up for hamburger with particular attention now to how potentially contaminated internal parts are handled or disposed of.....with only one single case ever.... that was successfully caught and removed from the food supply....with not a single U.S. death or injury to the disease.... worrying about Mad cow from the consumer point of view is quite pointless. Your more likely to die from your monitor falling on you....Rod |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Rod & Betty Jo wrote: "Tom G" wrote in message news:T2B7e.1011781$Xk.686081@pd7tw3no... The U.S. should be suspicious enough to test it's cattle. Not particularly.....if out of millions of cows you consistantly get no disease....testing and the expence is rather pointless. There are many ways to get sick or die.... at some point probability is a reasonable marker in determining which test to run and how often. If you only test thousands, not millions, and when there is a suspicious case you don't test or you hide the test results, testing does indeed become pointless. The U.S. beef market is about 7 times larger than Canada's. What do you think the chances are of isolating the disease to one small locale, Very good given the free trade of live cattle ( before border closing ), and the fact that it takes years before it is detected? The contaminated cows came from specific contaminated feed .......localized in Canada as well as eventually the U.S......appropriate steps have been taken to avoid this danger in the future especially following Britains much larger problem etc.....By law in 1997 animal feed requirements were tightened.....Besides most beef cattle do not live a long life (30 months or less)....the only old cattle still possibly left are only ground up for hamburger with particular attention now to how potentially contaminated internal parts are handled or disposed of.....with only one single case ever.... that was successfully caught and removed from the food supply....with not a single U.S. death or injury to the disease.... worrying about Mad cow from the consumer point of view is quite pointless. Your more likely to die from your monitor falling on you....Rod That is exactly what the British government officials said running up to the outbreak there. "There has been no death or injury from the disease therefore we are safe, worrying about it is pointless" Boy, were they wrong. Hundreds of Brits died from the disease. Canada has taken steps to ensure as definitively as possible that all BSE cows are identified and prevented from entering the food chain, that re-assures the consumer that the odds of CJDs are as minimized as possible. The US appears to have done everything it can to avoid finding any cases and getting bad publicity for their industry, that may be safe for the industry but it sure is dangerous to the consumer. TC |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Testing Testing One.... Two.... Three... | Steve | General Discussion | 0 | June 12th, 2004 10:43 PM |
Do you have any special plans for Valentine's Day? | SPOONS | Weightwatchers | 11 | January 24th, 2004 10:26 AM |
Different Plans? | Fludge | Weightwatchers | 3 | January 11th, 2004 10:55 AM |
Home cholesterol testing | Eric | Low Carbohydrate Diets | 4 | January 8th, 2004 08:47 PM |
Your help in testing a new diet please | Mad Mitch | General Discussion | 12 | January 6th, 2004 04:44 PM |