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USDA Prohibits Testing for Mad Cow Disease
Posted by MadameX • 9/01/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: BSE, department of agriculture, mad cow disease, usda
I'm surprised by how little fuss and controversy I've seen around the web about the U.S. Appellate Court decision yesterday saying that it was okay for the U.S.D.A. to prohibit a meatpacking company from testing its own beef for mad cow disease.
We've just posted an article about the decision on Rational Outrage: www.rational-outrage.com/2008090144/legal-outrage/mad-cow-testing-bannedsaf...
The crux of the situation is that the U.S.D.A. tests about 1% of beef cattle. A Kansas meatpacker undertook to test every one of its cows, built a laboratory and sent its employees overseas to learn testing procedures from the company that manufactures the test kits, only to learn that the U.S.D.A. wouldn't let it conduct the testing because the company might use the enhanced testing as a marketing point and that was "inconsistent with USDA's mandate to ensure effective, scientifically sound testing for significant animal diseases and maintain domestic and international confidence in U.S. cattle and beef products.”
In other words, if people found out this one company was testing all of its beef, they might wonder about the others.
I know court cases usually don't get a lot of press, but I'm surprised that the simple fact that the U.S.D.A. is in the business of telling companies they can't up the level of safety precautions isn't bigger news. Why aren't we outraged about this?
User Comments
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[Why aren't we outraged about this?]
Why don't more people know about this? I posted it in my Announcement box, and I'm about to send an email to PZ Myers. -
"Why don't more people know about this?"
I'm trying! (I see you are, too) -
I so freakin gald we have such an expensive government looking out for us. Because we all know the more expensive it is the better it must be.
I'm just sure that with all the money we're spending on these clowns this MUST be the right thing to do for the public welfare. -
Crazy .... -
Tweeted and stumbled. If I hadn't just posted that rant about off topic posts, I might even be tempted to post something to my blog.
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I also stumbled this excellent post. What a shocking situation. I know a woman who had a child with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease but as she has moved I do not know if her little boy survived a year or not. He was extremely handicapped. IMHO the time has come to hold the feet of the USDA to the fire. Not testing for BSE is absolutely unacceptable.
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/creutzfeldtjakobdisease.html
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I'm trying to get this bumped up.
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I can't believe that keeping the public safe is against U.S.D.A. policy. Who cares if they were to use it in marketing - it would be great if they did put pressure on other companies to do the testing too.-
Wrong spot
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Why aren't we outraged about this?
Now, that I know, I am outraged and disgusted. Let us ask why our government is protecting corporate giants over the interest of the American people! Can you say "political ties"?
The meat business spends lavishly to support its political agenda. Since 1990, livestock and meat-processing interests have doled out almost $28 million to federal candidates, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks campaign contributions. The industry spends about another $2 million every year on lobbyists. "They understand we have the best laws money can buy," says Lyman. "It's much easier to buy a politician than to comply with regulations."
Big beef has a special friend in President George W. Bush. After all, Bush is the former governor of Texas, the nation's top cattle-producing state, and owns a ranch himself there. He was the keynote speaker at the NCBA's annual meeting in 2002. He was also the number-one recipient of the industry's campaign contributions in this and the last election cycle, pulling in nearly $1 million from livestock and meatpacking interests. Perhaps that helps explain why Bush solemnly told a mad cow-spooked public on New Year's Day: "I ate beef today, and will continue to eat beef." Source: www.organicconsumers.org/madcow/Foxes11604.cfm-
GG, that information would make a most welcome comment on the article.
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I'm trying to add it to your comments but I keep getting a spam warning.
Heh. -
I'm not sure why that's happening; your registration did come through. Sorry for the hassle! Gerri is looking into it.
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Hey globalgirl, you can try again if you want. I had it set to block copy&paste comments but have temp. allowed it for you.
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Thanks.
This news is so disturbing to me. Sadly, I am not really surprised our government is refusing wide spread testing of this horrible disease. -
Me too, GG. It's been a long time since I harbored any illusion that the government was "on our side", but something this clear and blatant comes as a shock.
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I still can't get my comment to post. I'll log out and then log back in. Maybe that will work?
Nope.
Will have to wait. -
The only other possibility we can come up with is that you exceeded a default maximum length. We've extended that, too, now.
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GG: hmm.. the only other thing I think it could be is the length of the comment. I just made an adjustment there too. Sorry you're having a problem. A comment came in right after I made the changes and I was hopeful that it was you, but I see that it wasn't.
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Unfortunately our whole government is corporate influenced there is a staggering amount of money to spend just to boost profits and if the tables were turned would an individual be charged with a crime. Troubling very troubling!
Most politicians have become big business influenced. What about we the people?
I would be embarrassed to be in the political arena and know were we have directed out nation. Sure we have a great country however it really needs to get back to politicians serving us instead of taking from us.
The food industry is just one example of this corruption however this is one that we all should really be aware of and rethink our food choices.
What is real food anyway relearn and adjust to be healthy and full of natural life boosting energy.
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This is a huge problem and they are not identifying because it is a money thing. Who stands to lose revenue over this? Big money and corporations before doing the right thing... I am scratching my head over that!
Isn't that sad?
Thanks for sharing! -
No need to test for mad cow disease (BSE). The US will know in 20 years or so if the herd is infected because the incidence of CJD will go up in the human population. Enjoy your steak.
BSE (CJD) has a nice long incubation period and is polybores fav prion. -
I heard this on NPR last week and have yet to find the 25 page decision, which I'd like to read. Found only the original decision.
Maybe people are waiting to have the document before they post their outrage. I have seen some outrage about this though not much, maybe the conventions are overshadowing the fact that the government is again looking out after it's own best interests and practicing a form of capitalism which exists for the crony's off the well off.. -
It has already been proven that the USDA is a corporate protection agency and we the individual come second, maybe.
Again our nation is corporate driven our government knows where the $$$ money is at. They tax us and serve the corporations like the beef industry.
We are the pawns that are feeding the machine.
Can you see it can you tell that I am not that happy about what our nation is right now. I am thankful that I live in this nation, very thankful However that does not mean that I need to blindly accept the lies as they are sprayed out at us.
You should really openly question what is really going on also.
Think and don't be blinded by fear and false fronts.
Love and Wishes to You All! Really!
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