United States | USDA Says BSE Prevalence Is Extremely Low, Submits Data For S...

United States

USDA Says BSE Prevalence Is Extremely Low, Submits Data For Scientific Review

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today (April 28) announced the prevalence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in the United States is extremely low, and is submitting that conclusion to the scientific community for a peer review to ensure it is science based.

To date, the United States has tested more than 690,000 animals, or the equivalent of up to 7,000 cattle at a cost of $1 million dollars per week.

USDA analyzed data collected since 1999 and concluded that, at the most, there would be four to seven BSE cases in the U.S. herd today. This is less than one case per million adult cattle.

USDA is submitting this analysis for a scientific peer review to ensure the conclusions drawn are valid. This review will be completed by the end of May.

“When considering the size of the U.S. herd, and after looking at this statistical analysis, it is evident the practices the United States has put in place are making a huge difference in the prevalence of BSE,” Johanns said.

Johanns said USDA could consider a reduction in BSE testing after receiving the results of this peer review, but all decisions made about U.S. testing measures will be science-based to ensure the safety of U.S. beef.

Food safety is protected by a set of interlocking safeguards, such as removal of specific risk materials, a ban on non-ambulatory cattle being slaughtered for consumption and a ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban put in place in 1997. The longer the feed ban is in place, the fewer animals exposed to the disease exist.

United States

USDA Says BSE Prevalence Is Extremely Low, Submits Data For Scientific Review

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today (April 28) announced the prevalence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in the United States is extremely low, and is submitting that conclusion to the scientific community for a peer review to ensure it is science based.

To date, the United States has tested more than 690,000 animals, or the equivalent of up to 7,000 cattle at a cost of $1 million dollars per week.

USDA analyzed data collected since 1999 and concluded that, at the most, there would be four to seven BSE cases in the U.S. herd today. This is less than one case per million adult cattle.

USDA is submitting this analysis for a scientific peer review to ensure the conclusions drawn are valid. This review will be completed by the end of May.

“When considering the size of the U.S. herd, and after looking at this statistical analysis, it is evident the practices the United States has put in place are making a huge difference in the prevalence of BSE,” Johanns said.

Johanns said USDA could consider a reduction in BSE testing after receiving the results of this peer review, but all decisions made about U.S. testing measures will be science-based to ensure the safety of U.S. beef.

Food safety is protected by a set of interlocking safeguards, such as removal of specific risk materials, a ban on non-ambulatory cattle being slaughtered for consumption and a ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban put in place in 1997. The longer the feed ban is in place, the fewer animals exposed to the disease exist.