Background
In December 2003, the federal government announced that a cow slaughtered in Washington State had tested positive for mad cow disease. This marked the first time that a cow in the U.S. had tested positive for the deadly brain wasting disease, prompting over 50 countries around the world to boycott American beef. The discovery has highlighted the vulnerability of the U.S. beef supply and the government’s inadequate safeguards to protect consumers from this deadly hazard.

What is mad cow disease?
Mad cow disease or Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) is one of several similar fatal brain diseases. Its name is based on its main effect: the infected brain eventually becomes riddled with sponge-like holes. In people, the disease is called Cruetzfeldt-Jakob disease or CJD.

What has been done?
In response to the discovery of mad cow disease in the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced in January that it would tighten animal feed rules to prevent the spread of mad cow disease. Material in animal feed – such as poultry floor waste, plate waste, and cows’ blood – has been known to transmit the disease.

Is it enough?
FDA’s proposals could help stop the spread of the disease if they are ever actually put in place. Unfortunately, after making its announcement in January, FDA has failed to move forward on its proposals. Now, FDA has said it will begin taking public comment on the issue, which delays any action indefinitely.

What more needs to be done?
Consumers Union believes that FDA knows the nature of the problem with animal feed, knows how to solve that problem, and should act expeditiously to ensure that mad cow disease does not spread through tainted feed. Any further delay in action is unnecessary and puts the nation’s beef supply at risk. Consumers Union has called on FDA to act immediately to:

• ban poultry floor waste, plate waste and cows’ blood from animal feed; and


• Take steps to require separate machinery at feed facilities for the handling of cattle protein and other types of protein to prevent cross contamination.