Las Vegas Sun

November 16, 2009

Currently: 62° | Complete forecast | Log in

Cow disease outbreak can also occur in this country

Thursday, March 28, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Most Western European nations have banned imports of British beef. Thousands of British consumers and hundreds of schools have dropped beef from their menus. There is talk of destroying the entire British cattle population of 11 million.

I am not convinced by U.S. Department of Agriculture assurances that it can't happen here. The outbreak of BSE in Britain has been traced to infected sheep parts in cattle feed. Slaughterhouse waste unfit for human consumption is used for livestock feed in the United States as well. The consequences are uncertain, because there is no early test for BSE and symptoms are unlikely to show up before slaughter.

The only safe course for consumers is to reduce substantially consumption of beef and other animal products.

Debbie Dill

archive

  • Most Read
  • Discussed
  • Most E-mailed

Complete Listing

Calendar »

  • 16 Mon
  • 17 Tue
  • 18 Wed
  • 19 Thu
  • 20 Fri