20 Cattle Unable To Walk Processed By Packers Anyway - Asahi Shinbun

[hatrack]

Government officials hinted Thursday at a further delay in resuming U.S. beef imports following a disturbing report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that 20 sickly cattle were processed for human consumption.

The animals in question had difficulty walking, which is considered an indicator of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Although such cattle, known as "downers," were processed while Japan banned imports of U.S. beef, the U.S. government's report brings into sharp focus American laxity toward BSE, sources said. Mamoru Ishihara, administrative vice minister at the farm ministry, indicated the news might delay the resumption of U.S. beef imports.

Japan banned imports of U.S. beef in December 2003 following the discovery of a BSE case in the United States. It lifted the ban late last year, only to re-impose it in January when spinal column, seen as highly risky for transmitting BSE, was found in U.S. beef shipments.

EDIT

The Feb. 2 report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of the Inspector General said that 29 animals that developed walking trouble while at two slaughter facilities were nevertheless slaughtered for human consumption between June 2004 and April 2005. Injuries and other clear causes were confirmed in only nine animals. In January 2004, the U.S. government banned using downers as food for humans.

EDIT

http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200602100189.html

[CoffeeCat]

1. Are they trying to kill us all? (nt)

[mzmolly]

2. OMG. I buy organic grass fed beef, but my husband buys what's "on sale"

:puke:

I'll be sending this to him quick like.

[NickB79]

10. I've switched over to ground turkey mostly

Aldi's sells it for 99 cents a pound, and it works well as a beef substitute. When I do eat beef, it's from the cows my dad raises and has butchered for his own personal use on the farm. I know exactly what we feed them, so I don't worry about Mad Cow. The calves are nursed by their mothers instead of being fed milk replacer formula (which is made with dried cow blood, btw), they are allowed to graze in the summer, and are fed silage, hay and feed we grind up ourselves from corn, soybeans and oats we grow ourselves.

[mzmolly]

11. I think we need to boycott farmers who don't practice the methods you

note. I failed to mention that I buy lots of poultry as well.

[gimama]

3. I read somewhere Mrs.bush insists on organic

& free range for the Family.
I would trust Mrs.b on this ONE thing.

[Ecumenist]

4. This does not surprise me at all

My husband and I have are considering looking into raising free range organic beef and chickens. He raised beef cattle in Texas growing up on a cattle ranch. We found a way to get clean beef without paying sky high prices. We shop for beef and chicken at muslim groceries. They allow ONLY organically fed beef, raised without drugs, hormones or unwholesome feed. It's bit more expensive than supermarket cuts BUT it's no where near as pricey as organic or kosher products. The beef is inspected at EVERY STEP OF THE WAY by imams, (just like rabbis who inspect the food production and processing).

[phantom power]

5. What's especially galling about this...

is that we're talking about a small number of animals, relatively speaking. It's like endangering people's lives for an extra nickel. What would it cost the ranchers, to reject 20 animals? I can't believe it's any significant cost.

[progdonkey]

6. cost of scare, too

Not only that, but what about when a report like this occurs and people start freaking out? I have to believe that the beef industry loses a hell of a lot of money every time something like this comes to light.

To slightly alter your question, how much money do these ranchers think they're saving by allowing these 20 cattle to be added to the supply? Any of the "extra nickels" that they might possibly be saving by not rejecting these cattle must pale in comparison to the financial impact of another BSE scare.

[phantom power]

7. True. But (as we see) these things *do* eventually come out.

Now, people know that there are BSE cows, *and* that the beef industry is selling them to us, *and* they are lying about it. Now that's scary...

[JohnWxy]

8. Here's another good case for Stossel to talk on in praise of GREED.

"Hey, those cows probably just slipped on a bar of soap. GIMME A BREAK!"

Come on John, Gimme a Break!!

[depakid]

9. Anyone who thought that the Republicans would ensure

the safety of our beef supply (like my Dad) were sorely mistaken....

The Dept. of Ag (and all the other agencies involved) have long since been captured by the very industries they were designed to regulate.