CFIA LAUNCHES MASSIVE BSE MAD COW MBM FEED INVESTIGATION

[flounder]

Subject: CFIA LAUNCHES MASSIVE BSE MAD COW MBM FEED INVESTIGATION OF 100 FARMS
Date: November 21, 2006 at 2:06 pm PST


CFIA LAUNCHES FEED INVESTIGATION
OTTAWA, November 18, 2006 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has launched an investigation and is monitoring livestock movement related to non-compliant feed shipments to cattle farms in Quebec and Ontario during the past two to three weeks. The safety of the Canadian food supply is not affected.

Information provided by the supplier, Agribrands Canada Inc., indicates that a very small amount of meat and bone meal came into contact with ingredients used in the production of ruminant feed. The supplier is moving quickly to remove any feed that made its way to the farm level.

Teams of CFIA inspectors are visiting approximately 100 farms in Ontario and Quebec. As a precaution, the CFIA is identifying implicated animals and monitoring movement of all cattle and other ruminant animals exposed to the feed, pending the completion of an investigation and science-based assessment to determine the potential risk to animal health. Investigators are confirming the amount of feed that each farm received and to which animals it was fed, to indicate potential levels of exposure. This will allow for effective identification and movement control. Previous movement of animals will be verified through farmers' records.

The CFIA is verifying that suppliers to Agribrands Canada Inc. have revised their processes and procedures as required to prevent similar situations in the future. The Agency will also be inspecting all feed mills, farms and transport vehicles that handled the contaminated material to ensure that equipment has been properly cleaned.

Specified risk materials (SRM) are removed from every animal slaughtered in Canada for human consumption. This measure is internationally recognized as the most effective means to protect the safety of the food supply system from bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Furthermore, given the long incubation period of BSE and the brief period since the potential exposure, there is no food safety concern associated with animals that may have consumed the feed.

The CFIA has a program in place to ensure that the current feed ban remains effectively enforced and to protect the health of the national cattle herd from BSE. To date, industry has demonstrated a high level of compliance with Canada's feed ban. Enhancements to the feed ban, which come into effect next July, address the remaining risks posed by contamination through the removal of more than 99% of potential BSE infectivity from the animal feed system. SRM-tissues where BSE concentrates in infected cattle-are being banned from all livestock feeds, pet foods and fertilizers.

As the investigation proceeds, updates will be provided on the CFIA's web site.

-30-

For information:
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Media Relations: (613) 228-6682


http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/newcom/2006/20061118e.shtml



2) Infectious dose:

To cattle: 1 gram of infected brain material (by oral ingestion)


http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/sci/bio/bseesbe.shtml



look at the table and you'll see that as little as 1 mg (or 0.001 gm) caused
7% (1 of 14) of the cows to come down with BSE;


Risk of oral infection with bovine spongiform encephalopathy agent in
primates

Corinne Ida Lasmézas, Emmanuel Comoy, Stephen Hawkins, Christian Herzog,
Franck Mouthon, Timm Konold, Frédéric Auvré, Evelyne Correia, Nathalie
Lescoutra-Etchegaray, Nicole Salès, Gerald Wells, Paul Brown, Jean-Philippe
Deslys
Summary The uncertain extent of human exposure to bovine spongiform
encephalopathy (BSE)--which can lead to variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
(vCJD)--is compounded by incomplete knowledge about the efficiency of oral
infection and the magnitude of any bovine-to-human biological barrier to
transmission. We therefore investigated oral transmission of BSE to
non-human primates. We gave two macaques a 5 g oral dose of brain homogenate
from a BSE-infected cow. One macaque developed vCJD-like neurological
disease 60 months after exposure, whereas the other remained free of disease
at 76 months. On the basis of these findings and data from other studies, we
made a preliminary estimate of the food exposure risk for man, which
provides additional assurance that existing public health measures can
prevent transmission of BSE to man.


snip...


BSE bovine brain inoculum

100 g 10 g 5 g 1 g 100 mg 10 mg 1 mg 0·1 mg 0·01 mg

Primate (oral route)* 1/2 (50%)

Cattle (oral route)* 10/10 (100%) 7/9 (78%) 7/10 (70%) 3/15 (20%) 1/15 (7%)
1/15 (7%)

RIII mice (ic ip route)* 17/18 (94%) 15/17 (88%) 1/14 (7%)

PrPres biochemical detection

The comparison is made on the basis of calibration of the bovine inoculum
used in our study with primates against a bovine brain inoculum with a
similar PrPres concentration that was

inoculated into mice and cattle.8 *Data are number of animals
positive/number of animals surviving at the time of clinical onset of
disease in the first positive animal (%). The accuracy of

bioassays is generally judged to be about plus or minus 1 log. ic
ip=intracerebral and intraperitoneal.

Table 1: Comparison of transmission rates in primates and cattle infected
orally with similar BSE brain inocula


Published online January 27, 2005

http://www.thelancet.com/journal/journal.isa




It is clear that the designing scientists must

also have shared Mr Bradley's surprise at the results because all the dose

levels right down to 1 gram triggered infection.


http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/ws/s145d.pdf




2

6. It also appears to me that Mr Bradley's answer (that it would take less
than say 100

grams) was probably given with the benefit of hindsight; particularly if one

considers that later in the same answer Mr Bradley expresses his surprise
that it

could take as little of 1 gram of brain to cause BSE by the oral route
within the

same species. This information did not become available until the "attack
rate"

experiment had been completed in 1995/96. This was a titration experiment

designed to ascertain the infective dose. A range of dosages was used to
ensure

that the actual result was within both a lower and an upper limit within the
study

and the designing scientists would not have expected all the dose levels to
trigger

infection. The dose ranges chosen by the most informed scientists at that
time

ranged from 1 gram to three times one hundred grams. It is clear that the
designing

scientists must have also shared Mr Bradley's surprise at the results
because all the

dose levels right down to 1 gram triggered infection.


http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/ws/s147f.pdf




Re: BSE .1 GRAM LETHAL NEW STUDY SAYS via W.H.O. Dr Maura Ricketts

[BBC radio 4 FARM news]


http://www.maddeer.org/audio/BBC4farmingtoday2_1_03.ram




http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/03/slides/3923s1_OPH.htm




Calves were challenged by mouth with homogenised brain from confirmed cases of BSE. Some received 300g (3 doses of 100g), some 100g, 10g or 1g. They were then left to develop BSE, but were not subjected to the normal stresses that they might have encountered in a dairy herd. Animals in all four groups developed BSE. There has been a considerable spread of incubation period in some of the groups, but it appears as if those in the 1 and 10g challenge groups most closely fit the picture of incubation periods seen in the epidemic. Experiments in progress indicate that oral infection can occur in some animals with doses as low as 0.01g and 0.001g. .........



http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/bse/science-research/pathog.html#dose




TSS

 

[Tam]

Subject: CFIA LAUNCHES MASSIVE BSE MAD COW MBM FEED INVESTIGATION OF 100 FARMS
Date: November 21, 2006 at 2:06 pm PST


CFIA LAUNCHES FEED INVESTIGATION
OTTAWA, November 18, 2006 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has launched an investigation and is monitoring livestock movement related to non-compliant feed shipments to cattle farms in Quebec and Ontario during the past two to three weeks. The safety of the Canadian food supply is not affected.

Information provided by the supplier, Agribrands Canada Inc., indicates that a very small amount of meat and bone meal came into contact with ingredients used in the production of ruminant feed. The supplier is moving quickly to remove any feed that made its way to the farm level.

Teams of CFIA inspectors are visiting approximately 100 farms in Ontario and Quebec. As a precaution, the CFIA is identifying implicated animals and monitoring movement of all cattle and other ruminant animals exposed to the feed, pending the completion of an investigation and science-based assessment to determine the potential risk to animal health. Investigators are confirming the amount of feed that each farm received and to which animals it was fed, to indicate potential levels of exposure. This will allow for effective identification and movement control. Previous movement of animals will be verified through farmers' records.

The CFIA is verifying that suppliers to Agribrands Canada Inc. have revised their processes and procedures as required to prevent similar situations in the future. The Agency will also be inspecting all feed mills, farms and transport vehicles that handled the contaminated material to ensure that equipment has been properly cleaned.

Specified risk materials (SRM) are removed from every animal slaughtered in Canada for human consumption. This measure is internationally recognized as the most effective means to protect the safety of the food supply system from bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Furthermore, given the long incubation period of BSE and the brief period since the potential exposure, there is no food safety concern associated with animals that may have consumed the feed.

The CFIA has a program in place to ensure that the current feed ban remains effectively enforced and to protect the health of the national cattle herd from BSE. To date, industry has demonstrated a high level of compliance with Canada's feed ban. Enhancements to the feed ban, which come into effect next July, address the remaining risks posed by contamination through the removal of more than 99% of potential BSE infectivity from the animal feed system. SRM-tissues where BSE concentrates in infected cattle-are being banned from all livestock feeds, pet foods and fertilizers.

As the investigation proceeds, updates will be provided on the CFIA's web site.

-30-

For information:
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Media Relations: (613) 228-6682


http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/newcom/2006/20061118e.shtml

TSS

Nice choice of words in the subject line Flounder. Where in the CFIA press release does it say it is a MASSIVE investigation?

 

[flounder]

''Teams of CFIA inspectors are visiting approximately 100 farms in Ontario and Quebec''


like i said, massive. i would say this is a good thing. at least they are investigating. here in the USA, we just send into commerce and then issue these stupid recalls that no one recalls. they just feed it out. so again, i would say this is a good thing.


USA MAD COW FEED IN COMMERCE;



http://www.fda.gov/foi/warning_letters/g6104d.pdf

besides the other tons and tons of recall of potential BSE/BASE/TSE feed in
the USA in 2006;

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/enforce/2006/ENF00968.html

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ENFORCE/2006/ENF00964.html

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/enforce/2006/ENF00963.html

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/enforce/2006/ENF00963.html

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/enforce/2006/ENF00963.html

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/enforce/2006/ENF00960.html

http://www.fda.gov/foi/warning_letters/g5883d.htm



TSS

 

[bse-tester]

CFIA reportedly suggests:

Specified risk materials (SRM) are removed from every animal slaughtered in Canada for human consumption. This measure is internationally recognized as the most effective means to protect the safety of the food supply system from bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Furthermore, given the long incubation period of BSE and the brief period since the potential exposure, there is no food safety concern associated with animals that may have consumed the feed.

This is particularly scary!! I guess that means that the incubation period can then be considered transferred to the consumer?

What the government is suggesting is that due to the long incubation period in cattle, the meat product is safe to eat as the prion infection has not grown to a point where it becomes clinically noticeable to the casual observer???

What they seem to forget is that although the prion disease is not clinically manifested, the infection is still there!! The period of time it takes for the animal to show its last meal transferred into blood-borne material is way shorter than the incubation period of the prion disease. In fact, it may only be a matter of hours and those deadly prions are already in the bloodstream along with all of the other "nutrients" digested in the same mix!!

God help us make this lunacy stop!! SRM removal will only remove those tissues known to harbor prion disease. But let us also note that prior to the prion manifesting within those SRM tissues, it has also manifested itself within the entire animal. Nobody trained those pesky little prions to go straight to the SRM material and not stop anywhere else.

To then further state that the removal of the SRM tissues represents 99% of the prion removal (in so many words) is, in and of itself, a pure and absolute boldface lie!!! Call it a smokescreen or whatever you wish folks - to me it is nothing short of being a crock designed to lull the masses into thinking that the product is safe simply to allow for trade. Remember that even when the government's own three prion scientists tried to blow the whistle, they we fired and labelled as "disgruntled employees" who tried to start trouble within their department. (CFIA: 2003/4 Toronto)

The CFIA ia really good at this shell-game methinks!!! But the truly sad part is that they have convinced a number of folks into actually believing there scam.

 

[PORKER]

SRM removal will only remove those tissues known to harbor prion disease. But let us also note that prior to the prion manifesting within those SRM tissues, it has also manifested itself within the entire animal. Nobody trained those pesky little prions to go straight to the SRM material and not stop anywhere else. **** Ditto**** Who are these press writing numbshulls?????????? You are right BSE TESTER,They have NO clue.

 

[Econ101]

Again it is clear that our regulatory agencies in Canada and the U.S. are playing Russian roulet with BSE instead of going with the science. All this caused by greed and wanting to cover their own butts. Their miscalculations have left a bullet or two in the gun. Lets hope the consumers don't find out---tell them there are no bullets in the gun!!! :lol: :shock: :shock: :roll:

 

[PORKER]

Maybe the FDA needs to bring in the FBI and get to the bottum of things like the did to those spinach companies,then we could see who is stonewalling by name ,not the company !

 

[Kato]

From what I heard on the news, a truck that had previously hauled bone meal was used to haul cattle feed. That's it. Nothing more. Would any regulatory agency south of the border even spot something like that, let alone launch a full investigation?

 

[Econ101]

From what I heard on the news, a truck that had previously hauled bone meal was used to haul cattle feed. That's it. Nothing more. Would any regulatory agency south of the border even spot something like that, let alone launch a full investigation?

The biggest problem with your scenario, Kato, is that there had to be infected material in the truck.

Where did it come from and who ate the beef from it?

Unless of course, they were just trying to be careful, and in that case, good for them for finding the truck with potential violations.

Let us hope it is the latter. It would show that bse is finally being taken seriously and not just covered up again.

 

[DaleK]

I have a couple of neighbours under quarantine for this. It was Purina, they hauled meat meal in a truck and it didn't dump completely out then didn't clean it before they hauled another feed. An unknown amount of meat meal was used in dairy rations. They don't know what's going to happen to the herds involved yet, either they'll be destroyed or more likely branded.

 

[Big Muddy rancher]

From what I heard on the news, a truck that had previously hauled bone meal was used to haul cattle feed. That's it. Nothing more. Would any regulatory agency south of the border even spot something like that, let alone launch a full investigation?

The biggest problem with your scenario, Kato, is that there had to be infected material in the truck.

Where did it come from and who ate the beef from it?

Unless of course, they were just trying to be careful, and in that case, good for them for finding the truck with potential violations.

Let us hope it is the latter. It would show that bse is finally being taken seriously and not just covered up again.

Who said there was infected material in the load?

There has never been BSE in that area so the likelyhood of the meal being infected is minimal.

 

[Econ101]

From what I heard on the news, a truck that had previously hauled bone meal was used to haul cattle feed. That's it. Nothing more. Would any regulatory agency south of the border even spot something like that, let alone launch a full investigation?

The biggest problem with your scenario, Kato, is that there had to be infected material in the truck.

Where did it come from and who ate the beef from it?

Unless of course, they were just trying to be careful, and in that case, good for them for finding the truck with potential violations.

Let us hope it is the latter. It would show that bse is finally being taken seriously and not just covered up again.

Who said there was infected material in the load?

There has never been BSE in that area so the likelyhood of the meal being infected is minimal.

Then hopefully it is scenario 2. We may never know for sure.

I hope purina is going to pay the farmers for their damages dale.

 

[HAY MAKER]

Well I am glad to see the canucks are finally starting to get serious about the constant violations of the feed ban,maybe they can enact some stiff fines and penalties and get better compliance..................good luck

 

[Anonymous]

The biggest problem with your scenario, Kato, is that there had to be infected material in the truck.

Where did it come from and who ate the beef from it?

Unless of course, they were just trying to be careful, and in that case, good for them for finding the truck with potential violations.

Let us hope it is the latter. It would show that bse is finally being taken seriously and not just covered up again.

Who said there was infected material in the load?

There has never been BSE in that area so the likelyhood of the meal being infected is minimal.

Then hopefully it is scenario 2. We may never know for sure.

I hope purina is going to pay the farmers for their damages dale.

If I remember right- from what I read in another article- the feed came from a Manitoba plant tho...And Manitoba has had BSE....Also 25 of the imported cattle associated with the 1993 BSE case which were not found, including 3 which CFIA lists as "high risk" were in Ontario and Quebec....

 

[Big Muddy rancher]

And Montana is right south of Alberta.

 

[Anonymous]

And Montana is right south of Alberta.

That might be the reason we got "Tam's Forts" now- and Predator UAV's flying the line ......

 

[Manitoba_Rancher]

Oldtimer,


Go play you rmind games somewhere else!! Your a protectionist you should build your lil fort around yourself to protect yourself from the sky falling. :roll:

 

[Tam]

Flounder this was MASSIVE

and Haymaker and Oldtimer before you make anymore smug comments about this Canadian feed ban violation remember this US CONTAMINATED FEED VIOLATION

Huge feed recall due to mammalian protein

by Pete Hisey on 8/8/2006 for Meatingplace.com

The Food and Drug Administration announced two recalls, one for 27 million pounds of feed produced in Michigan and the other an unknown amount of feed produced in Kentucky. Both were suspected of being adulterated with ruminant or mammalian protein, including ruminant meat and bone meal in the second recall.

Vita Plus Corp., Gagetown, Mich., has recalled 27,694,240 pounds of dairy feed produced between February of 2005 and June 16, 2006, because it is believed it was contaminated with mammalian protein. The feed was distributed in Michigan and the recall is complete.

Burkmann Feeds LLC, Glasgow, Ky., has recalled an unknown amount of custom feed because it contains an ingredient called Pro-Lak, which may contain ruminant-derived meat and bone meal. The Burkmann feed was distributed in Kentucky.

Haymaker is this how the US takes their feed ban violations seriously?
And Oldtimer can you tell us just how much of the 27 + million pounds of United States contaminated feed that was made shipped and FED over a 17 month period, was recalled and actually retrieved from your system and destroyed?

 

[Anonymous]

Oldtimer,


Go play you rmind games somewhere else!! Your a protectionist you should build your lil fort around yourself to protect yourself from the sky falling. :roll:

Yep- I am, and I think the majority of the country is going that way...The true conservatives always were, believing in the Jefferson/Madison old theory of only doing what trading we needed to do/ and whats beneficial for us- and not signing the country in to any long term trade agreements that threaten or reduce our sovereignty or that of any of the states... And now many of the rest- the moderates and the liberals are seeing the failures of NAFTA, GATT, and the WTO- the sellout of our country and industries and infrastructure to China and the rest of the world- and the consequences of fighting the wars of the world while the other so called allies sit back and do nothing, but bring in the money they made off this so called "free trade" that we've kept free for them.... Yep I probably am a protectionist...

As a historian- I keep remembering what won two world wars, and it wasn't that Americans were tougher or better fighters than anyone else- it was our industrial/agricultural might that supplied the allied world with fighting machinery, arms, and food...And now we are selling/have sold most of that out to countries that may or may not be our allies tomorrow...Not a smart move in my book- because like it or not history keeps repeating itself....We've turned the county from being an industrial/agricultual might into a service provider.....Maybe in the next war- when we find out our allies ain't really our allies anymore and won't provide the supplys we need- or like many today "fair weather allies"-- we can meet the invasion on the beachs and fight them off with our Mickie D's hamburger spatulas..... :roll:

 

[feeder]

Well said OT !!!!! We didn't fight previous wars just to give our country away today.