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Update on testing case

Sandhusker

Well-known member
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Bush administration on Friday urged a federal appeals court to stop meatpackers from testing all their animals for mad cow disease, but a skeptical judge questioned whether the government has that authority.


Less than 1 percent of slaughtered cows are currently tested for mad cow disease.

The government seeks to reverse a lower court ruling that allowed Kansas-based Creekstone Farms Premium Beef to conduct more comprehensive testing to satisfy demand from overseas customers in Japan and elsewhere.

Less than 1 percent of slaughtered cows are currently tested for the disease under Agriculture Department guidelines. The agency argues that more widespread testing does not guarantee food safety and could result in a false positive that scares consumers.

"They want to create false assurances," Justice Department attorney Eric Flesig-Greene told a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

But Creekstone attorney Russell Frye contended the Agriculture Department's regulations covering the treatment of domestic animals contain no prohibition against an individual company testing for mad cow disease, since the test is conducted only after a cow is slaughtered. He said the agency has no authority to prevent companies from using the test to reassure customers.

"This is the government telling the consumers, `You're not entitled to this information,"' Frye said.

Chief Judge David B. Sentelle seemed to agree with Creekstone's contention that the additional testing would not interfere with agency regulations governing the treatment of animals.

"All they want to do is create information," Sentelle said, noting that it's up to consumers to decide how to interpret the information.

Larger meatpackers have opposed Creekstone's push to allow wider testing out of fear that consumer pressure would force them to begin testing all animals too. Increased testing would raise the price of meat by a few cents per pound.

Mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, can be fatal to humans who eat tainted beef. Three cases of mad cow disease have been discovered in the U.S. since 2003.

The district court's ruling last year in favor of Creekstone was supposed to take effect June 1, 2007, but the Agriculture Department's appeal has delayed the testing so far
 

hillsdown

Well-known member
I am sorry but this doesn't make any sense at all. :???:

Is this the same government that doesn't seem to care about the thousands and thousands of good men and women being murdered in a war that its' significance is questionable. :roll:

Is this the same government that called for an end of horse slaughter for human consumption. :roll:

A false positive is better than not testing to find any.

:? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :? :?
 

mrj

Well-known member
I'm not terribly fond of computer models, but they are used with some success.

Isn't it a computer generated study which determined that after the initial larger testing protocol in the USA, what is currently being done is MORE than adequate to catch any BSE case we may have?

mrj
 

gcreekrch

Well-known member
mrj said:
I'm not terribly fond of computer models, but they are used with some success.

Isn't it a computer generated study which determined that after the initial larger testing protocol in the USA, what is currently being done is MORE than adequate to catch any BSE case we may have?

mrj

It's time you woke up and smelled the roses. I really don't think you would like the REAL aroma of the BSE issue
 

mrj

Well-known member
hillsdown, no one LIKES war. Some do understand that it is preferable to sitting and taking any sneak attack by terrorists determined to end western civilization as it exists today.

Are you studying Islam and learning whichever language the terrorist group which will dominate Canada and your neighborhood if/when they succeed requires????

Our trained military personnel, while any losses are sad, are trained for the specific purpose of protecting the our people from terrorists. They understand, as should we, that they may lose their lives while going about their work. That makes the loss of life no less tragic, only more heroic. The Islamic Terrorists clearly declared war on us. The difficult thing about fighting terrorists is that they are not from just one nation, which would make stopping them simpler. Our leaders had indicators that Iraq was the place Islamic terrorist leaders wanted as their base and source of fuel so lthat was the logical place to slow or stop their progress in eliminating western influence from the world.

If you have studied our Congress much, you would realize there are all too many opportunists there who will jump on the most ridiculous bandwagon in their zeal to retain power and be re-elected. The short sighted horse slaughter ban seemed an easy 'plum' of public opinion to serve, at the time. Too many in agriculture, not directly involved in the horse business apparently felt it wouldn't affect them. They forget how quickly a success for the animal worshipping groups energizes them and fills their coffers to go after the next legislative goal. All agriculture and meat eaters will be made to pay for that folly!

You obviously misunderstand my view of BSE, as I believe you don't understand the US methods and goals for ending the problem.

mrj
 

fedup2

Well-known member
hillsdown writes:[“Is this the same government that doesn't seem to care about the thousands and thousands of good men and women being murdered in a war that its' significance is questionable”]

This statement pi$$ed me off so bad I had to take a walk just to cool off! First of all, where did you come up with the thousands & thousands???? Do you have any idea how many innocent people died in this country in one day on 9/11?
These young men and women are making the highest sacrifices to protect my @ss & yours! For you to belittle those sacrifices because you have trade issues with this country is pure Bull$hit!! Seems those soldiers are used every time someone is unhappy about this country, our president, or any other self-serving agenda they have going at the time. If you have a point to make, make it without sinking to the level of a cheap [email protected] statement like that! :mad: :mad: :mad:
 
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