Oldtimer
Well-known member
Canada violates US mad cow rules, ships adult cow By Randy Fabi
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Canadian animal health inspectors accidentally approved the export of a 31-month-old cow to the United States, violating strict U.S. safeguards to prevent mad cow disease, a U.S. Agriculture Department official said on Monday.
The mistake prompted a Wisconsin meat plant late Friday to recall voluntarily 1,856 pounds of beef that may contain the backbone of the imported cow.
The USDA said some of the meat may have already been consumed.
"It is very, very unlikely that this product would cause illness," said Steven Cohen, spokesman for USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service. "We are still investigating how much may still be available and if any retailers received it."
The United States prohibits the skull, spinal cord and vertebral column from domestic and imported cattle older than 30 months of age in the food supply. These materials are considered the most risky for spreading bovine spongiform encephalopathy ( BSE).
The USDA last month reopened U.S. borders to imports of young Canadian cattle, ending a two-year ban imposed after Canada's first domestic case of mad cow disease.
Cohen said the adult cow did not show any signs of sickness when imported into the United States.
Green Bay Dressed Beef in Wisconsin processed the meat on August 4 and distributed it to wholesale distributors in Pennsylvania, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
The products were sold under the American Foods Group and Dakota Supreme Beef brands and had an establishment number 410 on each box.
The USDA said the health certificate accompanying the cow was presented to the Wisconsin plant and it appeared complete and accurate.
However, a subsequent audit by Canadian officials found the information to be inaccurate. "Action has been taken by Canadian Food Inspection Agency officials in response to findings from the audit," the USDA said.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Canadian animal health inspectors accidentally approved the export of a 31-month-old cow to the United States, violating strict U.S. safeguards to prevent mad cow disease, a U.S. Agriculture Department official said on Monday.
The mistake prompted a Wisconsin meat plant late Friday to recall voluntarily 1,856 pounds of beef that may contain the backbone of the imported cow.
The USDA said some of the meat may have already been consumed.
"It is very, very unlikely that this product would cause illness," said Steven Cohen, spokesman for USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service. "We are still investigating how much may still be available and if any retailers received it."
The United States prohibits the skull, spinal cord and vertebral column from domestic and imported cattle older than 30 months of age in the food supply. These materials are considered the most risky for spreading bovine spongiform encephalopathy ( BSE).
The USDA last month reopened U.S. borders to imports of young Canadian cattle, ending a two-year ban imposed after Canada's first domestic case of mad cow disease.
Cohen said the adult cow did not show any signs of sickness when imported into the United States.
Green Bay Dressed Beef in Wisconsin processed the meat on August 4 and distributed it to wholesale distributors in Pennsylvania, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
The products were sold under the American Foods Group and Dakota Supreme Beef brands and had an establishment number 410 on each box.
The USDA said the health certificate accompanying the cow was presented to the Wisconsin plant and it appeared complete and accurate.
However, a subsequent audit by Canadian officials found the information to be inaccurate. "Action has been taken by Canadian Food Inspection Agency officials in response to findings from the audit," the USDA said.
Some states still mistakenly believe the USDA has the ability or desire to perform their job.......
