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Allegation of U.S. mad cow coverup stirs up debate
Last Updated Apr 11 2005 11:48 AM CDT
CBC News
SASKATOON – An allegation of a U.S. coverup of mad cow cases south of the border has been generating debate and disbelief in Canada.
Canadian cattle have been banned from the U.S. since May 2003
A former United States Department of Agriculture packing plant veterinarian said last week it doesn't make sense that Canada has had four BSE cases (including one Canadian-born cow found with the disease in Washington state), but the U.S., with ten times as many cattle, hasn't seen a single case.
Lester Friedlander, who speaks on food safety issues and was in Edmonton Wednesday, said colleagues with the USDA told him there have been cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy found that the government has chosen not to make public.
However, industry leaders in Saskatchewan aren't buying the notion of a coverup.
Lanigan-area feedlot operator Brad Wildeman said he's heard these allegations before, but he's not buying them.
"Without seeing some concrete evidence of that...memos or directives, you know, I think we have to take them with a grain of salt," he said.
Even scientists like University of Saskatchewan's Chris Clark, a leading expert in BSE, finds charges of a coverup hard to swallow.
"That would just be absurd to sort of suggest that diagnostic labs were losing samples or not testing the appropriate samples," he said. "That would call into question your entire animal health program. I can't see anybody would be stupid enough to do that."
Clark said if there is any weakness in the American system it might be in producer compliance – if farmers don't identify animals for testing, often they won't be tested.
As for the difference in detection rates between the two countries, Wildeman said it may be because Canada uses a much more sensitive test.
The USDA denied Friedlander's allegations, saying there's no way it would hide BSE cases because that would hurt the beef industry.
Last Updated Apr 11 2005 11:48 AM CDT
CBC News
SASKATOON – An allegation of a U.S. coverup of mad cow cases south of the border has been generating debate and disbelief in Canada.
Canadian cattle have been banned from the U.S. since May 2003
A former United States Department of Agriculture packing plant veterinarian said last week it doesn't make sense that Canada has had four BSE cases (including one Canadian-born cow found with the disease in Washington state), but the U.S., with ten times as many cattle, hasn't seen a single case.
Lester Friedlander, who speaks on food safety issues and was in Edmonton Wednesday, said colleagues with the USDA told him there have been cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy found that the government has chosen not to make public.
However, industry leaders in Saskatchewan aren't buying the notion of a coverup.
Lanigan-area feedlot operator Brad Wildeman said he's heard these allegations before, but he's not buying them.
"Without seeing some concrete evidence of that...memos or directives, you know, I think we have to take them with a grain of salt," he said.
Even scientists like University of Saskatchewan's Chris Clark, a leading expert in BSE, finds charges of a coverup hard to swallow.
"That would just be absurd to sort of suggest that diagnostic labs were losing samples or not testing the appropriate samples," he said. "That would call into question your entire animal health program. I can't see anybody would be stupid enough to do that."
Clark said if there is any weakness in the American system it might be in producer compliance – if farmers don't identify animals for testing, often they won't be tested.
As for the difference in detection rates between the two countries, Wildeman said it may be because Canada uses a much more sensitive test.
The USDA denied Friedlander's allegations, saying there's no way it would hide BSE cases because that would hurt the beef industry.