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More Press Doesn't Help Demand

Mike

Well-known member
Is mad cow making its way into our beef?
'Today' food editor Phil Lempert shares his thoughts on U.S. beef regulations and what consumers can do to protect themselves

COMMENTARY
By Phil Lempert
"Today" Food Editor
Updated: 5:08 p.m. ET May 17, 2006

Japanese officials have confirmed that their Ministry of Agriculture has identified that nation's 28th case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), better known as mad cow disease. And it should be a wake up call for U.S. consumers as well as our leaders in Washington.

This time the disease was found in a 68-month-old Holstein dairy cow on the northern island of Hokkaido. The government said that the infected animal's meat and intestines will be destroyed, with no chance that it will enter the food supply.

Now, for those of us in the U.S. concerned about the spread of mad cow disease and its human variant, this may not seem like such a big deal. After all, the United States doesn't import much beef from Japan.

But that's not the reason for us not to be worried. In fact, the reason we don't need to be worried is because Japan's national policy is for every cow to be tested — which explains how the government has found 28 cases to this point, and probably will find more. And underscores what I have been saying since I first appeared on the now famous "Oprah" show where Howard Lyman first revealed to the American shopper the realities of mad cow.

It goes without saying that I am not as confident about U.S. beef as I am about beef from Japan. Here the government tests about one percent of the cattle population. And, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has gone on record as saying that, based on its studies and surveillance, it believes that there are, at maximum, a total of between four and seven BSE cases in the U.S., and that a reduction in surveillance seems entirely appropriate.

We would disagree. Japan tests every cow, and has so far found 28 cases of BSE. The U.S. tests one percent of its cattle, and we have fewer than 10 cases. The math just doesn't add up.

Meanwhile, the possibility for mistakes that can have significant consequences is made obvious by the fact that the USDA has to this point been unable to get Japan to open its borders to U.S. beef imports. Why? Those borders were closed when the first case of mad cow was found in the U.S. in December 2003, and then reopened late last year, only to be closed again early this year when beef containing spinal matter — specifically banned by the agreement reopening the border — was found in a Japan-bound shipment.

Even when the rules were strict and clear, mistakes were made. In the environment created by the USDA, where oversight seems vague and may get vaguer, it seems even more likely that more problems will erupt. And the primary victims will be consumers.

So what can we do? Best chance for beef lovers is to consume either grass fed or Certified Organic beef until Washington wakes up and decides its time to protect our food supply just a little better.

Phil Lempert is food editor of the “Today” show. He welcomes questions and comments, which can be sent to [email protected] or by using the mail box below. For more about the latest trends on the supermarket shelves, visit Phil’s Web site at SuperMarketGuru.com.
 

TimH

Well-known member
Yup. Just like clockwork. You can always tell, when May- Long -Weekend/ grilling-season is just around the corner ,by the amount of anti-beef items in the media. :roll: :roll:

Happens every year. :?
 

agman

Well-known member
Mike said:
Is mad cow making its way into our beef?
'Today' food editor Phil Lempert shares his thoughts on U.S. beef regulations and what consumers can do to protect themselves

COMMENTARY
By Phil Lempert
"Today" Food Editor
Updated: 5:08 p.m. ET May 17, 2006

Japanese officials have confirmed that their Ministry of Agriculture has identified that nation's 28th case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), better known as mad cow disease. And it should be a wake up call for U.S. consumers as well as our leaders in Washington.

This time the disease was found in a 68-month-old Holstein dairy cow on the northern island of Hokkaido. The government said that the infected animal's meat and intestines will be destroyed, with no chance that it will enter the food supply.

Now, for those of us in the U.S. concerned about the spread of mad cow disease and its human variant, this may not seem like such a big deal. After all, the United States doesn't import much beef from Japan.

But that's not the reason for us not to be worried. In fact, the reason we don't need to be worried is because Japan's national policy is for every cow to be tested — which explains how the government has found 28 cases to this point, and probably will find more. And underscores what I have been saying since I first appeared on the now famous "Oprah" show where Howard Lyman first revealed to the American shopper the realities of mad cow.

It goes without saying that I am not as confident about U.S. beef as I am about beef from Japan. Here the government tests about one percent of the cattle population. And, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has gone on record as saying that, based on its studies and surveillance, it believes that there are, at maximum, a total of between four and seven BSE cases in the U.S., and that a reduction in surveillance seems entirely appropriate.

We would disagree. Japan tests every cow, and has so far found 28 cases of BSE. The U.S. tests one percent of its cattle, and we have fewer than 10 cases. The math just doesn't add up.

Meanwhile, the possibility for mistakes that can have significant consequences is made obvious by the fact that the USDA has to this point been unable to get Japan to open its borders to U.S. beef imports. Why? Those borders were closed when the first case of mad cow was found in the U.S. in December 2003, and then reopened late last year, only to be closed again early this year when beef containing spinal matter — specifically banned by the agreement reopening the border — was found in a Japan-bound shipment.

Even when the rules were strict and clear, mistakes were made. In the environment created by the USDA, where oversight seems vague and may get vaguer, it seems even more likely that more problems will erupt. And the primary victims will be consumers.

So what can we do? Best chance for beef lovers is to consume either grass fed or Certified Organic beef until Washington wakes up and decides its time to protect our food supply just a little better.

Phil Lempert is food editor of the “Today” show. He welcomes questions and comments, which can be sent to [email protected] or by using the mail box below. For more about the latest trends on the supermarket shelves, visit Phil’s Web site at SuperMarketGuru.com.

The math certainly doe not add up as he says. I wonder if he has a clue what the inventory differently is? I would bet he does not know. Japan kills approximately 5000-6000 head of cattle per day and have found 28 cases. The U.S kills 123,000 head per day and how many have been found? The majority of cattle killed in the U.S are under 20 months of age. Do you think the author knows that-likely not. To compare the concentration of BSE in Japan with the U.S. or Canada is totally absurd. This is a clear example of dealing with half the facts and drawing a half-..... conclusion.

The method of testing and the statistical methodology used in the U.S would and has found suspect animals. Testing everyone would not yield any different results. That is the concentration ratio would be not any different.

To suggest eating only grass fed or organic beef is the solution is also naive. How does he compensate for spontaneous occurrences?
 

TimH

Well-known member
R2 wrote-
Now there's a silly response. He did not say "don't eat beef," he said:

"Best chance for beef lovers is to consume either grass fed or Certified Organic beef until Washington wakes up and decides its time to protect our food supply just a little better." Why don't you respond to his points, specifically:

Why don't I respond to his points????

Apparently, because I'm too "silly" to realize that grass-fed and organic cattle are somehow immune to sporadic BSE and therefore pose no risk whatsoever of transmitting "the human form of mad cow disease" :roll: :roll: to an unsuspecting public......Oh, wait.........he did say "Best chance". :roll:

The only thing "beef lovers" like better than beef is "cheap beef". Why would they pay extra for grass-fed or organic when they can buy regular beef cheaper because folks like you R2,and the media, are so adept at reducing demand(and price) through your incessant fear mongering ???

And since you are chiding me to "respond to his points", perhaps you could respond to this point........the "link" between vCJD and beef consumption is only "circumstancial" as the 2 diseases seemed to appear at about the same point in time. No actual scientific link has been proven.

Now don't be silly. Just respond directly to that.

I almost forgot......Japan didn't ban MBM until 2001(I believe). You do the math R2. :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:
 

TimH

Well-known member
Sandhusker said:
Who proved BSE could happen sporadicly?

It does because Stanley Prusiner says so........or are we gonna pick and choose how much of his "sacrosanct" theory we are gonna go with??? :roll:
 

Mike

Well-known member
Sandhusker said:
TimH said:
Sandhusker said:
Who proved BSE could happen sporadicly?

It does because Stanley Prusiner says so........or are we gonna pick and choose how much of his "sacrosanct" theory we are gonna go with??? :roll:

I repeat my question. Who proved it?

No one has "Proved" it. Sporadic vCJD, BSE, and CJD can happen from an unknown cause. How could it be proven if it is from an unknown cause?

Theories are usually never proven. When the majority of science leans toward one side over another, it's accepted. Except with the USDA. They have their own set of rules. :wink:
 

Angus Cattle Shower

Well-known member
reader (the Second) said:
TimH said:
Yup. Just like clockwork. You can always tell, when May- Long -Weekend/ grilling-season is just around the corner ,by the amount of anti-beef items in the media. :roll: :roll:

Happens every year. :?

Now there's a silly response. He did not say "don't eat beef," he said:

"Best chance for beef lovers is to consume either grass fed or Certified Organic beef until Washington wakes up and decides its time to protect our food supply just a little better." Why don't you respond to his points, specifically:



It goes without saying that I am not as confident about U.S. beef as I am about beef from Japan. Here the government tests about one percent of the cattle population. And, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has gone on record as saying that, based on its studies and surveillance, it believes that there are, at maximum, a total of between four and seven BSE cases in the U.S., and that a reduction in surveillance seems entirely appropriate.

We would disagree. Japan tests every cow, and has so far found 28 cases of BSE. The U.S. tests one percent of its cattle, and we have fewer than 10 cases. The math just doesn't add up.

Just a question from a youngun, but why organic and not beef from feedlots? How can they tell the difference? Sorry fi they sound stupid. lol
 

Mike

Well-known member
Just a question from a youngun, but why organic and not beef from feedlots? How can they tell the difference?

From what I understand, beef from a feedlot could be organic if the feed fed to the cattle was raised organically (or without certain chemicals).

You might be confusing "Grassfed" with organic.
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
Mike, "No one has "Proved" it. Sporadic vCJD, BSE, and CJD can happen from an unknown cause. How could it be proven if it is from an unknown cause?"

"Sporadic" to me means hit and miss - showing up here and there for no apparant reason. I beleive there is probably a reason and that cause can be found. I don't think I'm ready to buy into the notion that there's nothing we can do - it will just pop up here and there on it's own.
 

Mike

Well-known member
Sandhusker said:
Mike, "No one has "Proved" it. Sporadic vCJD, BSE, and CJD can happen from an unknown cause. How could it be proven if it is from an unknown cause?"

"Sporadic" to me means hit and miss - showing up here and there for no apparant reason. I beleive there is probably a reason and that cause can be found. I don't think I'm ready to buy into the notion that there's nothing we can do - it will just pop up here and there on it's own.

Your prolly right. Sooner or later someone will come up with a causation. But until then we keep spreading it around.

Pretty hard to study something that cannot be seen. I think "Free Radicals" will come into the equation. Plus genetics.
 

RobertMac

Well-known member
Angus Cattle Shower said:
Just a question from a youngun, but why organic and not beef from feedlots? How can they tell the difference? Sorry fi they sound stupid. lol

Organic and grassfed can't be fed any feed that contains animal byproducts.
 

Econ101

Well-known member
RobertMac said:
Angus Cattle Shower said:
Just a question from a youngun, but why organic and not beef from feedlots? How can they tell the difference? Sorry fi they sound stupid. lol

Organic and grassfed can't be fed any feed that contains animal byproducts.

I am not an organic nut here, but I think organic can not have petroleum based fertilizers on fields or pesticides in addition to no antibiotics in feed or the animals.

Most grassfed beef does not have these products in it either and may or may not be organic. Grassfed does not feed grain as most feedlots do.
 

Angus Cattle Shower

Well-known member
Mike said:
Just a question from a youngun, but why organic and not beef from feedlots? How can they tell the difference?

From what I understand, beef from a feedlot could be organic if the feed fed to the cattle was raised organically (or without certain chemicals).

You might be confusing "Grassfed" with organic.
Ok, and thanks mike.
 

TimH

Well-known member
TimH said:
R2 wrote-
Now there's a silly response. He did not say "don't eat beef," he said:

"Best chance for beef lovers is to consume either grass fed or Certified Organic beef until Washington wakes up and decides its time to protect our food supply just a little better." Why don't you respond to his points, specifically:

Why don't I respond to his points????

Apparently, because I'm too "silly" to realize that grass-fed and organic cattle are somehow immune to sporadic BSE and therefore pose no risk whatsoever of transmitting "the human form of mad cow disease" :roll: :roll: to an unsuspecting public......Oh, wait.........he did say "Best chance". :roll:

The only thing "beef lovers" like better than beef is "cheap beef". Why would they pay extra for grass-fed or organic when they can buy regular beef cheaper because folks like you R2,and the media, are so adept at reducing demand(and price) through your incessant fear mongering ???

And since you are chiding me to "respond to his points", perhaps you could respond to this point........the "link" between vCJD and beef consumption is only "circumstancial" as the 2 diseases seemed to appear at about the same point in time. No actual scientific link has been proven.

Now don't be silly. Just respond directly to that.

I almost forgot......Japan didn't ban MBM until 2001(I believe). You do the math R2. :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

Hey... Where did you go R2???? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
 

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