Even Worse

<a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000082&sid=aQUCamQPqs5A&refer=canada">Canada Has 4th Case of Mad-Cow Disease Since 2003</a><br />n<br />n<blockquote>Canada said a 6-year-old cow in Alberta tested positive for mad-cow disease, the fourth domestic case since May 2003.<br />n<br />nThe infected animal didn't enter the food chain, Brian Evans, chief veterinary officer for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, said today during a conference call and press conference in Edmonton, Alberta. </blockquote><br />n<br />nSurprising, no. Upsetting, yes. It will be curious if they can track down how the cow got it and I would be real curious to know if it's a beef cow or dairy cow. The animal didn't enter the food chain so that's a plus.<br />n<br />nThe United States response to this?<br />n<br />n<blockquote>STATEMENT BY AGRICULTURE SECRETARY MIKE JOHANNS REGARDING <acronym title="Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy">BSE</acronym> FINDING IN CANADA<br />n<br />nJanuary 23, 2006<br />n<br />n"I appreciated the opportunity to speak with Canadian Agriculture Minister Andy Mitchell today, who apprised me of the new <acronym title="Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy">BSE</acronym> detection in Canada. I assured him that based on the information he supplied, I anticipate no change in the status of beef or live cattle imports to the U.S. from Canada under our established agreement. As I've said many times, our beef trade decisions follow internationally accepted guidelines that are based in science.<br />n<br />n"We will continue to evaluate this situation as the investigation continues. I have directed our <acronym title="United States Department of Agriculture, Bought and Paid for by The Big Meat Packers">USDA</acronym> team to work with Canada and its investigative team. Minister Mitchell has pledged his full cooperation.<br />n<br />n"I am confident in the safety of beef and in the safeguards we and our approved beef trading partners have in place to protect our food supply. We will continue to adhere to international guidelines in our relationships with all trading partners, and my hope continues to be that we achieve a system of science-based global beef trade."</blockquote><br />n<br />nI wouldn't expect the big meat packers/<acronym title="United States Department of Agriculture, Bought and Paid for by The Big Meat Packers">USDA</acronym> to do/say anything else. <br />n<br />nI do have a question about all of this though. As <a href="http://nowherethoughts.net/sarpysam/archives/1463-Simply-Criminal.html">I mentioned</a> the other day it has been reported that Canadian meat and poultry inspections <a href="http://www.billingsgazette.com//index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2006/01/11/build/business/45-canada-meat.inc">were lacking</a> but the big meat packers/<acronym title="United States Department of Agriculture, Bought and Paid for by The Big Meat Packers">USDA</acronym> was still letting meat come into the US even though the inspections don't meet the minumum standards set for the US. With this being the case, is it still wise to continue to let Canadian beef into the US until this inspection thing is figured out? I personally am not to sure.<br />n<br />nThis whole <acronym title="Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy">BSE</acronym> is something we are going to have to continue to live with so as an industry we need to get used to such excitment as this. Maintaining a vigilant defense is the best way to deal with it. I just wish the <acronym title="United States Department of Agriculture, Bought and Paid for by The Big Meat Packers">USDA</acronym> would divorce itself from the big meat packers so beef producers and American consumers would have more faith that they are doing their jobs right in protecting our meat supply.<br />n<br />n<b>Trust, but verify. Ronald Reagan</b>