Groups: U.S. beef is safe despite BSE case

The U.S. Meat Export Federation, which markets American beef, pork and lamb overseas, and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association sought to reassure consumers around the world that U.S. beef is safe despite today's USDA report of a case of mad cow disease in California.

From a news release:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today confirmed that, as part of its ongoing monitoring of livestock in the United States, an atypical case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) has been detected in a dairy cow in central California. The animal was not presented for slaughter for human consumption, and never posed a risk to the food supply or human health.

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is continuing to investigate the case, which was confirmed late Monday, April 23, but preliminary results indicate that this is an atypical case of BSE. According to USDA Chief Veterinary Officer John Clifford, this indicates that the case is unrelated to consumption of animal feed.

This latest finding will not have any impact on the United States’ “controlled risk” BSE classification through the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and should not affect access for U.S. beef products in international markets.

“The most important message is that U.S. beef is safe,” said Philip Seng, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) president and CEO. “We are already reaching out to our trade contacts around the world to reassure them that this finding is an indication that the system to safeguard the wholesomeness and safety of U.S. beef is working. The U.S. Government is providing this same information through its channels to all of our trading partners.”

The United States maintains a vigilant system of interlocking safeguards to protect human and animal health against BSE. Those include the removal of all specified risk materials (SRMs) during processing, USDA’s ban on any use of SRMs in both human or animal food, and constant monitoring of livestock to ensure that no higher-risk non-ambulatory (or “downer”) animals are processed for consumption.

Global BSE cases peaked at 37,311 in 1992, but steps taken by countries around the world have dramatically reduced new cases to a minimum. Of the four cases identified over the years in the United States, one animal was traced back to Canada. The other two earlier cases were both classified as atypical.

NCBA Cattle Health and Well-being Committee Chairman Tom Talbot -- a Central California veterinarian -- issued this statement about the case:

“USDA confirmed this afternoon a positive test result as part of its targeted surveillance program to test cattle for BSE. USDA has confirmed this dairy animal was discovered at a rendering facility and was never presented for human consumption and poses zero risk to human health. The bottom line remains the same – all U.S. beef is safe.

“America’s cattle producers’ top priority is raising healthy cattle. As such, the U.S. beef community has collaborated with and worked with animal health experts and government to put in place multiple interlocking safeguards over the past two decades to prevent BSE from taking hold in the United States. This effort was recognized in May 2007 when the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the leading international body for animal health, formally classified the United States as a controlled risk country for BSE. The controlled risk classification recognizes that U.S. regulatory controls are effective and that U.S fresh beef and beef products from cattle of all ages are safe and can be safely traded due to our interlocking safeguards.

“USDA’s ongoing BSE surveillance program tests approximately 40,000 high-risk cattle annually, bringing the total of tested animals to more than 1 million since the program began. BSE is fast approaching eradication worldwide. According to USDA, there were only 29 cases of BSE worldwide in 2011, which is a 99 percent reduction since the peak in 1992 of more than 37,300 cases.

“We commend USDA and animal health experts for effectively identifying and eliminating the potential risks associated with BSE.”

The story by Capital Press dairy reporter Carol Ryan Dumas is here. To watch video from the USDA press conference, click here. For the latest developments on this case, keep checking CapitalPress.com.