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GAO criticizes FDA on feed ban

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frenchie

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FOOD SAFETY
GAO criticizes FDA on feed ban

by Pete Hisey on 3/16/2005 for Meatingplace.com




The Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of the U.S. Congress, has issued a report saying that while the Food and Drug Administration has made great strides in implementing a ruminant-to-ruminant animal feed program, there are still significant weaknesses that compromise the so-called firewall against bovine spongiform encephalopathy. In particular, the report notes that many feed producers have never been inspected and that others have not been inspected in over five years.Sounds like quite a system

The report, titled "Mad Cow Disease: FDA's Management of the Feed Ban Has Improved, but Oversight Weaknesses Continue to Limit Program Effectiveness," said that "several hundred" of the thousands of feed plants that have not been inspected in five years or more "are potentially high risk." The GAO also criticized the FDA for relying on visual inspection and examination of documents, rather than actual testing of samples, when reviewing feed plant operations.Unbelivable

FDA responded that its system offers adequate protection to the U.S. cattle herd.

Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America, begged to differ. In a statement, Bill Bullard, chief executive, said, "R-CALF USA has repeatedly called on USDA and FDA to strengthen the U.S. cattle feed ban before considering any relaxation of the United States' ban on the importation of any cattle or beef from countries with bovine spongiform encephalopathy. This request is consistent with scientific recommendations made both by USDA and international scientists."

"Further, the International Review Team, comprised of internationally renowned scientists and convened by USDA…concluded in February of 2004 that 'the partial (ruminant-to-ruminant) feed ban that is currently in place is insufficient to prevent the exposure of cattle to the BSE agent," Bullard added.A little late don,t you think

From the other side of the issue, James H. Hodges, president of the American Meat Institute Foundation, lauded FDA for its improved practices and oversight, and noted that FDA reports that in its exhaustive review of the nation's feed mills are "99 percent in compliance" and that after 275,000 BSE tests of at-risk cattle in the past year, not one case of BSE has been detected
 
James H. Hodges, president of the American Meat Institute Foundation, lauded FDA for its improved practices and oversight, and noted that FDA reports that in its exhaustive review of the nation's feed mills .

AMI Doesn't give a rip about Food and FEED safety .
 
PORKER said:
James H. Hodges, president of the American Meat Institute Foundation, lauded FDA for its improved practices and oversight, and noted that FDA reports that in its exhaustive review of the nation's feed mills .

AMI Doesn't give a rip about Food and FEED safety .

neither does the F.D.A
 

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