Mad Cow Disease in California (cont.)
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What Happened When California Found Mad Cow Disease?Regarding the California case, public health officials pointed out that this particular case should not be alarming to humans because it occurred in a dairy cow that was not destined for human consumption, and, more importantly, that this case did not result from the cow eating a contaminated food source (meaning that other cows who ate the same food meal are not at risk). The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) confirmed these facts in a press release dated Apr. 24, 2012. In the statement, CDFA secretary Karen Ross stated, "Milk and beef remain safe to consume. The disease is not transmitted through milk. Because of the strength of the food protection system, the cow did not enter the food or feed supply. There are numerous safeguards in place to prevent BSE from entering the food chain." Indeed, legislation has been enacted over the past decades to protect consumers from mad cow disease. According to the CDFA statement, "Feed restrictions in place in California and around the country for the last 15 years minimize that risk to the greatest degree possible." Since August 1997, the U.S. FDA has not allowed most parts from cows to be used to make food that is fed to other cows, protecting healthy cows from getting BSE by ensuring they do not receive contaminated food supplies. Further, in 2009, the FDA ruled that high-risk cow parts are not to be used in making any type of animal feed. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) also has issued regulations ensuring that ill-appearing cows (that may be suffering from BSE) not be used for making human or animal foods. High-risk cows and cow products from other countries are banned from being imported to the U.S. Public health agencies also maintain strict surveillance programs to screen for the presence of BSE. The California case was the result of such screening; according to the CDFA, "The detection of BSE shows that the surveillance program in place in California and around the country is working." Medically reviewed by Robert Cox, MD; American Board of Internal Medicine with subspecialty in Infectious Disease
REFERENCES: Medically Reviewed by a Doctor on 5/3/2017
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