Song in my head: And all the soft moonlight seems to shine in your blush....Can I just have one a’ more moondance with you, my love.........................Van Morrison

Mad Cow News

Many of the articles are snipped from FSNet listserv, a food safety listserv, available by subscription. I try and provide links to articles if they are given or if I can find them.

September 20

Canada hopes to have new feed rules by end of year

Roberta Rampton WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Billy Hewett, director of policy for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency was cited as saying Canada hopes to have stricter livestock feed rules finalized by the end of the year that would ban cattle brains, spines and other risk materials from all animal feed, adding, "I know it seems slow, but it is enormously complex."The story notes that Canada banned protein made from cattle and other ruminants from cattle feed in 1997 to prevent the spread of mad cow disease. But the protein is still allowed in pig and poultry feed because they do not get BSE.To reduce the risk that cattle could inadvertently be given the wrong feed, Canada proposed to destroy brains, spines and other material from cattle over the age of 30 months that carries the greatest risk of harboring the agent that causes mad cow disease.Hewett was further cited as saying the agency continues to assess the costs as it works with provincial governments on detailed plans for destroying the banned material, adding, "If we get it wrong, we could undermine the long-term viability of the industry, without necessarily providing any additional risk reduction."The federal government has pledged C$80 million to help with disposal costs.

These safeguards will eliminate contaminated materials in pig and poultry feed. Why is this important? Because we don't know if this virus can skip species, therefore we should eliminate all suspect material from all types of animal and poultry feed until we are certain of no risk of cross contamination.


September 27

Japan Delay lifting beef ban angers U.S.

WASHINGTON—Lawmakers were cited as responding angrily Tuesday to Japan's delay on lifting a ban on American beef after Japan's Food Safety Commission said Monday it needs more time to weigh U.S. safeguards. The Senate Agriculture Committee chairman, Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., was quoted as saying the stalling "will sorely tempt economic trade action against Japan."Last week, the Senate voted to keep Kobe beef off U.S. menus if Japan won't lift its ban.

October 3

20,000 cows to be tested

APHIS personnel will collect 20,000 samples from apparently healthy adult cattle 30 months of age and older presented at slaughter as part of that agency's enhanced surveillance program for BSE. APHIS is responsible for all aspects of the sample selection and collection. Sample collection will occur at participating slaughter establishments that APHIS has selected for sampling. APHIS Area Veterinarians In Charge (AVIC) have determined there will be enough plants participating with sufficient numbers of animals to complete in a 4 to 6 week timeframe. FSIS will make the postmortem disposition, using established criteria, independent of whether animals are selected by APHIS for sampling. FSIS will not apply the marks of inspection to carcasses of cattle tested for BSE until a negative test result is reported. Cost recovery will remain at a maximum of $200. FSIS and APHIS personnel will meet with plants as early as today, Monday, October 3 to go over details prior to testing.

October 3

Panama border opening to U.S. beef

The Panama Ministry of Agriculture announced Panama is lifting its ban on boneless prime and choice cuts of U.S. beef from cattle less than 30 months of age, according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation. Panama imports beef primarily for use in upscale restaurants. U.S. beef export certification requirements have not been finalized yet.

October 4

FDA unveils proposal to fight mad cow

Associated Press/ReutersWASHINGTON—Seeking to close a gap in the nation's defense against mad cow disease, the Bush administration on Tuesday was cited as proposing to eliminate cattle parts from feed for all animals, including chickens, pigs and pets. Acting FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach was quoted as saying the proposal from the Food and Drug Administration "will make an already small risk even smaller."Stephen F. Sundlof, director of the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine, was cited as saying that the plan would reduce the risk of infection by 90 percent, and that after a public comment period, the rules should take effect sometime next year.

More tomorrow...Want your McBSE with fries?