Canadian Mad Cow

Nutrition Advisory Group

Mad Cow Article

http://www.thebakersfieldchannel.com/health/2229388/detail.html

Official: Mad Cow's Source May Never Be Known
Official Says Negative Tests Produce 'Solid Case'
POSTED: 11:00 a.m. EDT May 27, 2003
UPDATED: 6:27 p.m. EDT May 27, 2003

A Canadian investigator expects tests for mad cow disease will yield a solid case for the United States to end its ban on meat and cattle imports.

But Dr. Brian Evans, chief veterinarian for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, won't say when the probe will be complete. And U.S. Department of Agriculture spokesmen say the agency won't decide on ending the bans until U.S. officials see full results.

Canada has only one known case of mad cow, which was discovered last week in Alberta. Canadian officials are killing hundreds of cattle to see if there are other cases. Evans said all the tests done since that initial case have come back negative for mad cow.

He said the negative test results provide further evidence that current food safety measures are working.

News of the disease caused the United States and other countries to close their markets to Canadian beef products.

Evans expects the completion of tests to persuade U.S. officials to lift the ban. But a USDA spokeswoman said it's premature to say what conditions will satisfy U.S. officials. She said the department wants to see how the Canadian probe plays out.

Genetic tests are being done to find where and when the infected cow was born.

There are 17 cattle herds under quarantine as part of the investigation -- 12 in Alberta, two in Saskatchewan, and three in British Columbia.

Evans said officials are working hard on trying to find the source, and they will keep searching until it is "absolutely clear the trail has gone cold."

But Evans said they also have to consider the possibility the search will be fruitless; officials may never be certain of the source herd.

Evans said authorities will keep a close watch on livestock even if they can't find another animal with mad cow. And he said Canadian officials will keep working with the USDA

Mad cow disease, or Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, is a progressive, fatal disease of the nervous system of cattle. Cattle feed from animal sources is considered the most likely cause of the infection.

Pet Food Recalled Amid Mad Cow Scare

A U.S. company wants customers to return dog food that may have come from a Canadian cow that tested positive for mad cow disease.

The Food and Drug Administration learned that rendered material from the Canadian cow that tested positive for mad cow disease may have been used to manufacture pet food, specifically dry dog food, some of which was reported to have been shipped to the United States.

The voluntary recall by Pet Pantry International is a precaution to prevent discarded dog food from getting mixed with feed for cattle, goats or sheep. The FDA says there is no evidence that dogs can contract mad cow disease, nor pass the disease on to people.

Pet Pantry, of Carson City, Nev., wants customers to search for two products -- "Maintenance Diet," labeled with a use by date of "17FEB04," and "Beef with Barley," with a use by date of "05MAR04."

The products are purchased by phone or e-mail and delivered in 50-pound bags to consumers' homes by franchises. The company says any food found should be held for pickup.

The suspect dog food was produced by Champion Pet Food between Feb. 4 and March 12, 2003. Consumers who have purchased dog food from the Pet Pantry since February are asked to check their present supplies and see if any match the description of the product being removed.

If consumers find the bags in question, they are asked to contact the Pet Pantry at (800) 381-7387 for further information on how to return the product for proper disposal. Consumers are asked not to destroy or discard the product themselves.

The Pet Pantry will also use its sales records to contact consumers who purchased the affected product.

(Posted to NAGonline.net 5/28/03)