Mad Cow Coverup in US [View All]

Our Department of Agriculture held back reporting that a cow in Texas tested positive for Mad Cow disease seven months ago.

It makes one wonder how many cows here would test positive if tested. I say "if" due to the following quote from the article: http://www.organicconsumers.org/madcow/nyt62605.cfm

"Other countries use food-safety standards: Japan tests every cow, Europe tests about one in four.

The United States instead uses statistical models that it says will let a few tests detect the infection even in one cow in a million. It now tests one in 90; when the first mad cow case was found in 2003, it was testing one in 1,700.

With its statistical logic under regular attack, the United States has increased the number of tests to 388,000 in the past year, from 40 in 1990. But until recently, Mr. Johanns was discussing cutting back to 40,000 tests.

That system is "bizarre, illogical and woefully inadequate," said John Stauber, co-author of the book, "Mad Cow U.S.A.," which was first published in 1997.

"The bottom line," he said, "is that the U.S. government is afraid of putting in real food-safety testing because it would certainly find additional cases."

There are many articles and information at the main site: http://www.organicconsumers.org/madcow.htm

With my mistrust of anything in this administration, I really fear for our safety at the most basic level ... our dinner tables.