United States Senator Jon Tester (D-Montana) has introduced a bill to suspend beef imports from Brazil after there have been repeated issues with delayed reporting of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), or Mad Cow Disease, in beef products. The legislation would force a systemic review of the beef’s safety before imports could resume. Tester said in … Read more
The USDA announced on Tuesday, July 18, 201 that an eleven year old cow in Alabama has been diagnosed with an atypical case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease. The press release states that “This animal never entered slaughter channels and at no time presented a risk to the food supply, or … Read more
The FDA has finalized a rule designed to reduce the risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), sometimes called “mad cow disease” in human food. This rule covers definitions for prohibited cattle materials in food, dietary supplements, and cosmetics. The materials include specified risk materials (SRMs) of brain, skull, eyes, trigeminal ganglia, spinal corn, vertebral column, … Read more
At least one case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), otherwise known as Mad Cow Disease, has been confirmed in Germany. That country has claimed for years that its country was free of BSE, but they were wrong. Public health officials claim that the cow was killed and none of it entered the food chain. Germany … Read more
The U.S. is set for a mad cow disease risk upgrade from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). The organization’s scientific commission notified the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) this week that the United States’ risk classification for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), also called Mad Cow Disease be upgraded one risk level, from “controlled” … Read more
The Japanese government decided yesterday to ease restrictions it has placed on U.S. beef imports. Restrictions put in place in 2006 that partially opened the markets did not allow the import of beef from cattle older than 20 months; the industry standard is 30 months. The agreement, dated January 25, 2013, requires that the U.S. … Read more