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US mad cow flubs raise safety fears
Hong Kong Standard
July 29, 2005
A series of mishaps and confusion over testing for mad cow disease raises questions about the US government's credibility and could undermine efforts to convince major trading partners of the safety of American beef, say industry and consumer groups.
The US Department of Agriculture is now investigating a possible third case of mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, in an animal at least 12 years old.
A brain sample from the suspect cow was taken by a local veterinarian in April. But that was not tested by the USDA until last week. That delay was because the vet ``simply forgot'' to submit it, said the USDA.
The sample was frozen - a violation of USDA guidelines - and the vet also mistakenly used a preservative that limits the type of mad cow tests that can now be conducted.
The USDA refused to identify the location of the suspect animal or the vet's name.
``It is not a good image to be broadcasting,'' said US Meat Export Federation president and chief executive Philip Seng. ``The people in the international markets who would like to keep us out of the markets, they seize upon these points of differentiation.''
The mistakes come just one month after the USDA was criticized for its handling of another BSE case.
In that instance, a 12-year-old Texas beef cow was slaughtered in November and rapid screening tests found no mad cow disease. But the USDA's inspector general in June ordered the case to be reopened for more sophisticated testing, which confirmed mad cow disease.
The USDA also found problems with the handling of the Texas animal's brain tissue samples and inadequate documentation.
Democratic Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa, a major beef-producing state, said these types of mistakes prompt Japan, South Korea and other countries to question the safety of US beef.
The USDA said it hopes the new investigation will not impact talks with Japan, historically the top buyer of American beef, and South Korea, the No3 market. Final test results are expected next week.
Consumer groups questioned whether other vets may have forgotten to send samples of suspect animals to the USDA, keeping more cases from coming to light.
The USDA depends on private vets to submit brain samples from high-risk cattle - those unable to walk or showing signs of a nervous disorder - that die on the farm. The department has its own vets at packing plants, where most cattle are slaughtered. They check incoming animals for symptoms of disease.
``These two cases call into question how they handle every other case,'' said Joe Mendelson, legal director for the Center for Food Safety. ``If samples are taken and not being sent in, this speaks to significant gaps in our surveillance program.''
REUTERS
Hong Kong Standard
July 29, 2005
A series of mishaps and confusion over testing for mad cow disease raises questions about the US government's credibility and could undermine efforts to convince major trading partners of the safety of American beef, say industry and consumer groups.
The US Department of Agriculture is now investigating a possible third case of mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, in an animal at least 12 years old.
A brain sample from the suspect cow was taken by a local veterinarian in April. But that was not tested by the USDA until last week. That delay was because the vet ``simply forgot'' to submit it, said the USDA.
The sample was frozen - a violation of USDA guidelines - and the vet also mistakenly used a preservative that limits the type of mad cow tests that can now be conducted.
The USDA refused to identify the location of the suspect animal or the vet's name.
``It is not a good image to be broadcasting,'' said US Meat Export Federation president and chief executive Philip Seng. ``The people in the international markets who would like to keep us out of the markets, they seize upon these points of differentiation.''
The mistakes come just one month after the USDA was criticized for its handling of another BSE case.
In that instance, a 12-year-old Texas beef cow was slaughtered in November and rapid screening tests found no mad cow disease. But the USDA's inspector general in June ordered the case to be reopened for more sophisticated testing, which confirmed mad cow disease.
The USDA also found problems with the handling of the Texas animal's brain tissue samples and inadequate documentation.
Democratic Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa, a major beef-producing state, said these types of mistakes prompt Japan, South Korea and other countries to question the safety of US beef.
The USDA said it hopes the new investigation will not impact talks with Japan, historically the top buyer of American beef, and South Korea, the No3 market. Final test results are expected next week.
Consumer groups questioned whether other vets may have forgotten to send samples of suspect animals to the USDA, keeping more cases from coming to light.
The USDA depends on private vets to submit brain samples from high-risk cattle - those unable to walk or showing signs of a nervous disorder - that die on the farm. The department has its own vets at packing plants, where most cattle are slaughtered. They check incoming animals for symptoms of disease.
``These two cases call into question how they handle every other case,'' said Joe Mendelson, legal director for the Center for Food Safety. ``If samples are taken and not being sent in, this speaks to significant gaps in our surveillance program.''
REUTERS
