BSE Info -

Supplemental Q&A on Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)

NCBA — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the nation’s fourth case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a dairy cow from central California. APHIS’ laboratory results confirm that this is a case of atypical BSE.

The animal was sampled for testing for BSE at a rendering facility in California. In this specific instance, the carcass of the animal was held at the rendering facility and then destroyed. It was never presented for processing for human consumption so at no time presented a risk to the food supply.

Read the Fact Sheet HERE

Video-USDA Chief Veterinary Officer on Surveillance And Milk Safety

NCBA — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

USDA Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. John Clifford explains the system of strong interlocking safeguards designed to protect human and animal health.

Statement by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Regarding Detection of BSE In the US

NCBA — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

"The beef and dairy in the American food supply is safe and USDA remains confident in the health of U.S. cattle. The systems and safeguards in place to protect animal and human health worked as planned to identify this case quickly, and will ensure that it presents no risk to the food supply or to human health. USDA has no reason to believe that any other U.S. animals are currently affected, but we will remain vigilant and committed to the safeguards in place."

Please visit www.USDA.gov/BSE to learn more about BSE and to find updates as USDA continues to investigate this incident and share information as it becomes available. Video of an interview with USDA's Chief Veterinary Officer John Clifford on the BSE case is available HERE.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

To Read this Statement on USDA websites please click HERE

Blog Post: USDA’s Chief Veterinary Officer on the Recent BSE Case (aka Mad Cow)

NCBA — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

On April 24, USDA confirmed the nation’s 4^th case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in an animal that was sampled for the disease at a rendering facility in central California. This animal was never presented for slaughter for human consumption, so at no time presented a risk to the food and milk supply, or to human health in the United States.

We have a longstanding system of interlocking safeguards against BSE that protects public and animal health in the United States. The most important is the removal of specified risk materials – or the parts of an animal that would contain BSE should an animal have the disease – from all animals presented for slaughter in the United States. USDA inspectors at slaughter facilities also prevent cattle that are nonambulatory or are displaying signs of neurological disease or central nervous system disorders from entering the human food supply.

A strong feed ban protects cattle from the disease. In 1997, the FDA implemented regulations that prohibit the feeding of most mammalian proteins to ruminants, including cattle. This feed ban is the most important measure to prevent the transmission of BSE to cattle.

Read entire blog post HERE

Video: USDA Chief Veterinary Officer on BSE Case

NCBA — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

On April 24, 2012, the United States Department of Agriculture announced the nation's fourth case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), sometimes called mad cow disease, in a dairy cow from central California. USDA Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. John Clifford answers a series of questions about this BSE case.

Statement by USDA Chief Veterinary Officer John Clifford Regarding a Detection of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in the United States

NCBA — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

USDA Chief Veterinary Officer John Clifford today released the following statement on the detection of BSE in the United States:

"As part of our targeted surveillance system, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the nation's fourth case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a dairy cow from central California. The carcass of the animal is being held under State authority at a rendering facility in California and will be destroyed. It was never presented for slaughter for human consumption, so at no time presented a risk to the food supply or human health. Additionally, milk does not transmit BSE.

NCBA Statement on USDA Announcement Regarding Positive BSE Test Result

NCBA — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Cattle Health and Well-being Committee Chairman Tom Talbot issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) confirmation of an atypical case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a dairy cow in central California.

“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.

View Full Statement Here

AVMA Response to BSE Finding in California Dairy Cow

NCBA — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

SCHAUMBURG, Ill., April 24, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Veterinary Medical Association today released the following statement in response to the detection of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a dairy cow from central California.

"The finding of this BSE-positive cow is not particularly surprising, and it is certainly no cause for alarm," said Dr. Ron DeHaven, chief executive officer of the American Veterinary Medical Association. "It is not surprising because we have known for several years that there is a very low prevalence of BSE in our nation's cattle population. USDA has maintained a good, targeted surveillance program for the disease, and it is expected that we might find such cases periodically.

"This finding is not cause for alarm because the tissues of any infected cows that pose a food safety risk, i.e., specified risk materials or SRMs, have been kept out of the human food supply since early 2004. What this finding does confirm is that the safeguards put in place by the USDA several years ago are working as they are intended."

Dr. DeHaven is a past Administrator of APHIS and was USDA's Chief Veterinary Officer in Dec 2003 when the initial case of BSE was found in the U.S.

For more information, please visit, www.avma.org.

The AVMA and its more than 78,000 member veterinarians are engaged in a wide variety of activities dedicated to advancing the science and art of animal, human and public health. Visit the AVMA Web site at www.avma.org for more information.

SOURCE American Veterinary Medical Association

Click HERE to Read at PR Newswire

U.S. Meat Export Federation Statement

NCBA — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

USMEF Statement: Atypical BSE Case Confirmed in U.S. – No Impact on Food Safety

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.

Continue Reading Here

National Milk Producers Federation Statement on USDA BSE Announcement

NCBA — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

From Jerry Kozak, President and CEO of NMPF

America’s dairy farmers are encouraged that the on-going surveillance and inspections performed by federal authorities continue to ensure that bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, does not enter the U.S. food supply.

Continue Reading HERE