Fed to scale back on Mad Cow Testing. WTF?

All systems are still go on reducing cattle tests
Scaling back to proceed despite Alabama case


By LIBBY QUAID
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Despite the confirmation of a third case of mad cow, the government intends to scale back testing for the brain-wasting disorder blamed for the deaths of more than 150 people in Europe.

The Agriculture Department boosted its surveillance after finding the first case of mad cow disease in the U.S. in 2003. About 1,000 tests are run daily, up from about 55 daily in 2003.

The testing program detected an infected cow in Alabama last week, and further analysis confirmed Monday that the animal had mad cow.

Still, a reduction in testing has been in the works for months. The department's chief veterinarian, John Clifford, mentioned it when he announced the new case of mad cow disease.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/3724298.html

I wake up in the mornings now prepared for the worst, and I am never disappointed. Reducing testing for Mad Cow Disease, not prepared for bird flu, no control over any new disease, tens of thousands of our troops coming home with heretofore unknown diseases in this country.

And the mis-Administration keeps telling us all is well.

We're fucked, and so is the food supply.

... and in a way that can not be blamed on the Canadians (as was the case a few years ago in Washington State), it is imperative that the Junta protect and preserve the profits of the cattle barons. They couldn't afford to buy elections for Republicans if Americans were too scared of prion-induced brain deterioration and death; therefore, scaling back on the testing -- eventually cancelling it altogether -- is something required by national security.

Oh, and if it wasn't already clear... :sarcasm:

Thats right, its illegal for a beef producer to voluntarily test its own cows and market them as having been tested.