Vol. 2005, Special Edition

  June 25, 2005

This free electronic newsletter for nutrition and health professional subscribers is managed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association on behalf of the Cattlemen's Beef Board. See the end of the newsletter for communication and subscription information.

Please visit our Web site at http://www.beefnutrition.org/ for information and education materials about nutrition and health.

Special briefing

    BSE and the Safety of the U.S. Beef Supply

On June 24th, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a positive case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE, also known as mad cow disease).  USDA reported this was an older animal born before the feed ban and it did not enter either the human food or animal feed supply. You may be contacted by colleagues, clients and/or media for information about this unique case.  The purpose of this "Special Briefing" edition of u-mail is to provide some basic facts as well as links to more comprehensive information, if needed.

The highly sensitive rapid screening test used for BSE surveillance first identified this sample as a potential case in November 2004. However, immunohistochemistry (IHC) confirmatory tests determined the sample was negative. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) at USDA, as part of its review of USDA’s enhanced BSE surveillance system, decided this month that USDA should retest the sample. The Western Blot test was used for the retest and detected indications of BSE. Confirmation was provided by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency in Weybridge, England.

Both the IHC and Western blot are recognized by the World Animal Health Organization as BSE confirmatory tests. Effective immediately, USDA will run both the IHC and Western Blot as confirmatory tests. The enhanced BSE surveillance program that identified this case has been in place since June 1, 2004, and more than 388,000 samples have been tested so far.

You – and all consumers – can continue to be confident that U.S. beef is safe. The following are important points to keep in mind.

• The animal did not enter the human food or animal feed supply.
   

• Scientists, medical professionals and government officials agree that BSE is not a public health risk in the United States. USDA mandates removal of material that could potentially carry BSE from the food supply. BSE infectivity has not been found in milk or beef, such as steaks, roasts and ground beef.
   

• BSE is not contagious. Scientists believe it can be spread only through feeding practices banned in the United States since 1997.
   

• Because of progressive steps by the U.S. government and cattle industry during the past 15 years, we are confident the prevalence of BSE in the United States is extremely low. Since June 2004, the U.S. BSE Enhanced Surveillance Program has tested more than 388,000 targeted animals at highest risk for this disease and has found only one case.

The beef industry will continue to work to ensure U.S. beef remains safe, wholesome and healthy. As always, we’re committed to providing science-based, credible information to you.

Visit www.BSEInfo.org for the most up-to-date information, facts from USDA about BSE testing, answers to frequently asked questions and the BSE scientific resource.

Additional information about BSE also can be found at the following Web sites:

U.S. Department of Agriculture 

Food and Drug Administration

Centers for Disease Control

Do you have any comments or suggestions? Send an e-mail to umaileditor@beef.org.

©  Cattlemen's Beef Board and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
     All rights reserved.