LEGAL-yes ETHICAL-?????

[rwtherefords]

I've been reading this thread on & off since its inception. I've noticed that Frenchie is real quick to point out the slightest error in someone's post and proceed to attack that person's credibility based on those errors. Frenchie, if those rules work for others, they should apply to you as well. You flagrantly have passed several assertions as fact that are completely false. First, you stated that Socialism & Communism are "all the same". They are definitely not the same! Second, You stated that government regulation (government intervention) in industry is heading down "the communist road." Government regulation is necessary in Capitalism, Socialism, Communism, Fascist States, Dictatorships, Etc. Government regulation, in and of itself, is NOT the defining element for heading down the road of Communism. Third, you stated that R-CALF's actions drove one of your friends to suicide. Nobody drives anybody to suicide. That person made their own choice about how to handle their adverse situation. If everyone else is required to be completely accurate in every post, those rules should apply to you too.

I think you're real problem with R-CALF is revealed in your posts.

. How can the absence of R-CALF help me, my neighbors and you and your neighbors? ..

Thats 2 questions R-Calf sole function is too keep imported cattle out.U.S benefit.

No benefit to canadians.

Thank you, Frenchie, for making it abundantly clear that R-CALF is beneficial to American cattle producers. We have it from your own mouth. Keeping imported cattle out of America is beneficial to American cattle producers! Also, we find the true reason for the rub you have with R-CALF. Policies that benefit American cattle producers do not benefit you. I can't blame you for not liking R-CALF in that case either.

R-CALF - An American organization effecting policies that benefit American cattle producers, influencing American laws/policies in the American market. It sounds like you've made the case for R-CALF to Americans. Thanks

 

[frenchie]

I've been reading this thread on & off since its inception. I've noticed that Frenchie is real quick to point out the slightest error in someone's post and proceed to attack that person's credibility based on those errors. Frenchie, if those rules work for others, they should apply to you as well. You flagrantly have passed several assertions as fact that are completely false. First, you stated that Socialism & Communism are "all the same". They are definitely not the same!

Have you ever even seen the definition of socialism.Its a peaceful progression to communism.

Second, You stated that government regulation (government intervention) in industry is heading down "the communist road." Government regulation is necessary in Capitalism, Socialism, Communism, Fascist States, Dictatorships, Etc.

So what is the purpose of free entreprise..How does it even get a chance to function

Go itself, . Third, you stated that R-CALF's actions drove one of your friends to suicide. Nobody drives anybody to suicide. That person made their own choice about how to handle their adverse situation. .

I know what happened you don,t ...

I think you're real problem with R-CALF is revealed in your posts.

. How can the absence of R-CALF help me, my neighbors and you and your neighbors? ..

Thats 2 questions R-Calf sole function is too keep imported cattle out.U.S benefit.

No benefit to canadians.

Thank you, Frenchie, for making it abundantly clear that R-CALF is beneficial to American cattle producers. We have it from your own mouth. Keeping imported cattle out of America is beneficial to American cattle producers!

It is in the short term. :?:

rwtherefords Im glad you pointed that out.and i know you won,t believe what I,m am going to tell you....actually i read that wrong i thought he wrote .. how can the prescence of R-calf help me and my neighbors and you and your neighbours..

As far as no benifit to canada..I was refering to R-Calfs actions.

Now take her away and twist her anyway how you choose.

 

[rwtherefords]

No need for me to take it away Frenchie. I don't plan to invest the time to engage in one of your little banter sessions. I've had my say, and you've responded. That's good enough for me. Besides, you can twist things around plenty for the both of us if you want.

You refuse to acknowledge your errors and tried once again to twist the conversation. No dice! You said what you said, and anyone can go back and read it if they want.

Like I said in my post, I don't blame you a bit for not liking R-CALF. If I were in your situation, I'd no doubt feel the same way.

 

[frenchie]

No need for me to take it away Frenchie. I don't plan to invest the time to engage in one of your little banter sessions. I've had my say, and you've responded. That's good enough for me. Besides, you can twist things around plenty for the both of us if you want.

You refuse to acknowledge your errors and tried once again to twist the conversation. No dice! You said what you said, and anyone can go back and read it if they want.

.

Good thing you were here to catch me.... :lol: ...Told ya you would not believe me .. :lol:

 

[rwtherefords]

Frenchie, I made a mistake by not acknowledging my acceptance of your explanation. In fact, I had assumed that you had misread Beef11's post when I read your response originally. But.........you did say that it was beneficial to American producers to keep imported beef out. My response was more directed at your 3 other responses. I have no plan to get into a Civics class here but, I know what Communism and Socialism is. You still refuse to acknowledge that they are different after previously stating that they are one in the same. You didn't address your false statement about government regulation being the road to Communism but, re-directed the focus to a free enterprise question. Last, we'll probably have to agree to disagree about suicide. People all have multiple choices regardless of what they are facing. When one chooses to take their own life, that is their choice. I'm not saying that there are not outside contributing factors, and who knows, R-CALF's efforts may have been a big part in creating the contributing factors in your friends case. Like you said, I don't know the details. What I do know is, a person is responsible for what they do.

This will be my last post on this subject unless asked about something unrelated to my original post in this thread. If you hack up my reply with line by line replys, you will still have the last word. I've made my point so I'm done.

Have a good evening Frenchie

 

[houstoncutter]

Frenchie that packers knows were that animal came from on the kill floor with ID, but they wish to mix with animals from other countries..... Thats were the rubber meets the road, with COOL or ID the animal is identified.... That scares the crap out them and it seems as if maybe, perhaps, you as well. I and many others like to see made in America, on our products , and our beef.

 

[frenchie]

Frenchie, I made a mistake by not acknowledging my acceptance of your explanation. In fact, I had assumed that you had misread Beef11's post when I read your response originally. But.........you did say that it was beneficial to American producers to keep imported beef out.

Yes I did say that..In the same way that it would be benficial to Japanese cattle producers to keep imported beef out. Benefical at least initialy

Now tell me do U.S ranchers benefit from exporting beef to Japan..Yes or no

And furthermor does the beef export trade benefit U.S ranchers.Yes or No

My response was more directed at your 3 other responses. I have no plan to get into a Civics class here but, I know what Communism and Socialism is. You still refuse to acknowledge that they are different after previously stating that they are one in the same.

You and I will have to disagree on this one...There is one socialist party up here, whos original mandate Is to convert society to a state run affair through peaceful means..in others words the state owns everything..and everyone worKs for the state..Sound familar..

You didn't address your false statement about government regulation being the road to Communism but, re-directed the focus to a free enterprise question...

Its my opinon. only..GEEZE.rwherefords.. Do you believe in free speech or should R-calf petition the gov,t against that . as well....R-calf would have the U.S implement packer laws..to reduce the amount of time packers own cattle.

What about the guy that direct markets his own cattle as beef , does it prevent him from owning his own cattle.

that is the focus of my statement...How can you continue to put barriars up in the path of free enterprise...

This is all done with the theory that it will make cattle producers more profitable.

And if that does not work whats next a goverment agency to sell your product and laws to prevent you from selling outside of it.where does it end.

Last, we'll probably have to agree to disagree about suicide. People all have multiple choices regardless of what they are facing. When one chooses to take their own life, that is their choice. I'm not saying that there are not outside contributing factors, and who knows, R-CALF's efforts may have been a big part in creating the contributing factors in your friends case. Like you said, I don't know the details. What I do know is, a person is responsible for what they do....

(Like I said you don,t know the details...And I,m not to give them to you either. And don,t ever ask me for them either)
Just remember R-calfs actions don,t come without reactions.

This is my last post on the subject of this suicide .



[/b]

 

[frenchie]

Frenchie that packers knows were that animal came from on the kill floor with ID, .

I don,t believe they have the ability to segergate it..

.but they wish to mix with animals from other countries..... Thats were the rubber meets the road, with COOL or ID the animal is identified.... That scares the crap out them and it seems as if maybe, perhaps, you as well. I and many others like to see made in America, on our products , and our beef.

Cool does not bother me ..Canadian Beef leaves here labelled as product of Canada.

 

[Oldtimer]

Frenchie that packers knows were that animal came from on the kill floor with ID, .

I don,t believe they have the ability to segergate it..

I disagee frenchie-- Packers did it for Japan during the period when Japan was taking US beef, but weren't taking Canadian, they are doing it now with all beef going into the US school lunch program and beef under certain BEV programs....Segregation all the way to the consumer....

Also under the current USDA import rules all Canadian cattle slaughtered in the US now have to be segregated from arrival in the US thru slaughter.....

Its already being done...

The only thing that is not occurring is that the Packers and Retailers are not labeling it and being truthful with the consumer- This is done for only one reason--so they can mix in cheap imported beef and pass it off as US.......

 

[frenchie]

Frenchie that packers knows were that animal came from on the kill floor with ID, .

I don,t believe they have the ability to segergate it..

I disagee frenchie-- Packers did it for Japan during the period when Japan was taking US beef, but weren't taking Canadian, they are doing it now with all beef going into the US school lunch program and beef under certain BEV programs....Segregation all the way to the consumer..........

Oldtimer the only reason they were able to do that is because there were no Canadian cattle in your system.

Also under the current USDA import rules all Canadian cattle slaughtered in the US now have to be segregated from arrival in the US thru slaughter............

it won,t happen Oldtimer, unless you have only U.S cattle entering the plant.There is no 100 % fool proof way to prevent co-mingling other than that.

 

[Oldtimer]

Frenchie that packers knows were that animal came from on the kill floor with ID, .

I don,t believe they have the ability to segergate it..

I disagee frenchie-- Packers did it for Japan during the period when Japan was taking US beef, but weren't taking Canadian, they are doing it now with all beef going into the US school lunch program and beef under certain BEV programs....Segregation all the way to the consumer..........

Oldtimer the only reason they were able to do that is because there were no Canadian cattle in your system.

Also under the current USDA import rules all Canadian cattle slaughtered in the US now have to be segregated from arrival in the US thru slaughter............

it won,t happen Oldtimer, unless you have only U.S cattle entering the plant.There is no 100 % fool proof way to prevent co-mingling other than that.

Really?-- But yet they can track beef back to the ranch of origin...It can and is being done.....

 

[frenchie]

Frenchie that packers knows were that animal came from on the kill floor with ID, .

I don,t believe they have the ability to segergate it..

I disagee frenchie-- Packers did it for Japan during the period when Japan was taking US beef, but weren't taking Canadian, they are doing it now with all beef going into the US school lunch program and beef under certain BEV programs....Segregation all the way to the consumer..........

Oldtimer the only reason they were able to do that is because there were no Canadian cattle in your system.

Also under the current USDA import rules all Canadian cattle slaughtered in the US now have to be segregated from arrival in the US thru slaughter............

it won,t happen Oldtimer, unless you have only U.S cattle entering the plant.There is no 100 % fool proof way to prevent co-mingling other than that.

Really?-- But yet they can track beef back to the ranch of origin...It can and is being done.....

So you say... :lol: i seem to remember some bulls the Montana could not findThat came from the same herd as the May/03 cow

 

[Oldtimer]

Frenchie that packers knows were that animal came from on the kill floor with ID, .

I don,t believe they have the ability to segergate it..

I disagee frenchie-- Packers did it for Japan during the period when Japan was taking US beef, but weren't taking Canadian, they are doing it now with all beef going into the US school lunch program and beef under certain BEV programs....Segregation all the way to the consumer..........

Oldtimer the only reason they were able to do that is because there were no Canadian cattle in your system.

Also under the current USDA import rules all Canadian cattle slaughtered in the US now have to be segregated from arrival in the US thru slaughter............

it won,t happen Oldtimer, unless you have only U.S cattle entering the plant.There is no 100 % fool proof way to prevent co-mingling other than that.

Really?-- But yet they can track beef back to the ranch of origin...It can and is being done.....

So you say... :lol: i seem to remember some bulls the Montana could not findThat came from the same herd as the May/03 cow

And as I've told you several times frenchie- Those bulls were tracked down by brand records within days after the USDA decided they wanted them tracked...

Since You don't want to believe me- Call 1-406-444-2045--The Montana Dept of Livestock Brands Enforcement Div. and see what they tell you.....

 

[frenchie]

Frenchie that packers knows were that animal came from on the kill floor with ID, .

I don,t believe they have the ability to segergate it..

I disagee frenchie-- Packers did it for Japan during the period when Japan was taking US beef, but weren't taking Canadian, they are doing it now with all beef going into the US school lunch program and beef under certain BEV programs....Segregation all the way to the consumer..........

Oldtimer the only reason they were able to do that is because there were no Canadian cattle in your system.

Also under the current USDA import rules all Canadian cattle slaughtered in the US now have to be segregated from arrival in the US thru slaughter............

it won,t happen Oldtimer, unless you have only U.S cattle entering the plant.There is no 100 % fool proof way to prevent co-mingling other than that.

Really?-- But yet they can track beef back to the ranch of origin...It can and is being done.....

So you say... :lol: i seem to remember some bulls the Montana could not findThat came from the same herd as the May/03 cow

And as I've told you several times frenchie- Those bulls were tracked down by brand records within days after the USDA decided they wanted them tracked...

Since You don't want to believe me- Call 1-406-444-2045--The Montana Dept of Livestock Brands Enforcement Div. and see what they tell you.....

Talk is cheap....Ot produce a statement.You can produce it for everything else.

 

[frenchie]

Frenchie that packers knows were that animal came from on the kill floor with ID, .

I don,t believe they have the ability to segergate it..

I disagee frenchie-- Packers did it for Japan during the period when Japan was taking US beef, but weren't taking Canadian, they are doing it now with all beef going into the US school lunch program and beef under certain BEV programs....Segregation all the way to the consumer..........

Oldtimer the only reason they were able to do that is because there were no Canadian cattle in your system.

Also under the current USDA import rules all Canadian cattle slaughtered in the US now have to be segregated from arrival in the US thru slaughter............

it won,t happen Oldtimer, unless you have only U.S cattle entering the plant.There is no 100 % fool proof way to prevent co-mingling other than that.

Really?-- But yet they can track beef back to the ranch of origin...It can and is being done.....

Here is something for you to chew on Ot




Release No. 0074.04

Contact:
Office of Communications (202) 720-4623

Printable version

FINAL BSE UPDATE – Monday, February 9, 2004



On Monday, February 9, 2004, Dr. Ron DeHaven, Deputy Administrator of Veterinary Services for USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, announced that the field investigation of the case of BSE in a cow in the State of Washington is complete. This will be the last written daily update. However, information will be provided in the future on an as needed basis.
A summary of the investigation follows.

Investigation

The epidemiological tracing and DNA evidence proves that the BSE positive cow slaughtered in the State of Washington on December 9, 2003, was born on a dairy farm in Calmar, Alberta, Canada, on April 9, 1997. She was moved to the United States in September 2001 along with 80 other cattle from that dairy. A brain sample collected from the cow at slaughter tested positive for BSE on December 23rd.

The epidemiological investigation to find additional animals from the source herd led to a total of 189 investigations (these were investigations, not premises, and one investigation may or may not equal one premises; in some cases there are no premises [a dealer that just trucks animals from one place to another] but, more likely, one investigation can equal more than one premises), leading to complete herd inventories on 51 premises in three States: Washington, Oregon and Idaho. The inventories involved the examination of the identification on more than 75,000 animals. All herd inventories have now been completed and appropriate analysis of those inventories performed. There are no premises remaining under hold order.

A total of 255 "Animals of Interest" were identified on 10 premises in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. "Animals of Interest" are defined as animals that were - or could have been -from the source herd in Alberta, Canada.What they did not know how is this possible Ot All 255 animals were depopulated and BSE testing was negative on all of them. The carcasses from all of the euthanized animals were disposed of in landfills in accordance with all federal, state, and local regulations.

Included in the 255 animals of interest were 28 positively identified back to the group of 80 cattle that entered the U.S. with the index cow, as well as 7 heifers out of a group of 17 heifers which were also known to be from the source herd. It is not believed that all of these 17 entered the United States Hmmmm....they don,t know again., but all of them would be considered minimal risk and not significant to the investigation.


Guidelines on bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) issued by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the international animal heath standard setting organization, state that animals born on a premises within one year (before or after) of a BSE-affected animal should be considered of greater risk to the country reporting the BSE detection. As such, USDA has focused on 25 of the 81 animals also born into the birth herd of the index animal. Based on normal culling practices of local dairies, APHIS estimated that the Agency would be able to locate approximately 11 of these animals. APHIS definitively located 13 of these animals, plus the index cow, for a total of 14.

We feel confident that the remaining animals represent very little risk. Even in countries like the United Kingdom where the prevalence of BSE has been very high, it is very uncommon to find more than one or maybe two positive animals within a herd. Any of these animals showing nervous system disorder - or any that are nonambulatory at the time of slaughter - will be condemned and not allowed into the human food chain. Any animals slaughtered after January 12th would have the SRMs removed and not allowed into the human food chain. SRMs, or Specified Risk Materials, are those tissues or portions of the carcass likely to contain the infectious agent in an infected animal. And finally, we have had an effective feed ban in place for over 6 years, thus preventing the transmission of the disease to other animals.

Over 2,000 tons of meat and bone meal being held due to potential contamination with protein from the positive cow is on hold and will soon be disposed of in a landfill in accordance with all Federal, State, and local regulations.

Breakdown Summaries

Summary of the 255 depopulated:

28 were part of the 81
220 could have been part of the 81 Could have been Ot.....
7 heifers that were part of group of 17 heifers, some, but not all of which, entered the US
Of the 81 that came in from Canada (29 definitively accounted for)::

1 is the BSE-positive cow and was located in the Index herd in Mabton, WA.
9 were located in the Index herd in Mabton, WA.
3 were located at a facility in Tenino, WA.
6 were located at a facility in Connell, WA.
1 was located at a facility in Quincy, WA.
3 were located at a facility in Mattawa, WA.
1 was located at a facility in Moxee, WA.
3 were located at a facility in Burley, ID.
1 was located at a facility in Othello, WA.
1 was located a facility in Mabton, WA.
Of the 17 other cattle from the Canadian birth herd (these heifers are not part of the original 81 animals and it is not known how many of the 17 actually entered the United States). To date, seven animals have been identified in the United States:

3 were at a facility in Quincy, WA.
1 was at a facility in Boardman, OR.
1 was at a facility in Othello, WA.
1 was at a facility in Burley, ID
1 was at the second facility in Mabton, WA
Depopulation Activities

USDA has conducted selective depopulation activities at these facilities:

Sunnyside, WA (bull calf premises) - a total of 449 animals depopulated
Mabton, WA (index premises) - a total of 131 animals depopulated
Mattawa, WA - a total of 39 animals depopulated
Connell, WA - a total of 15 animals depopulated
Boardman, OR - a total of 20 animals depopulated
Quincy, WA – a total of 18 animals depopulated
Tenino, WA – a total of 4 animals depopulated
Moxee, WA – a total of 15 animals depopulated
Othello, WA – a total of 3 animals depopulated
Burley, ID – a total of 7 animals depopulated
Mabton, WA (second premises) – a total of 3 animals depopulated
Testing Activities

All adult animals depopulated were sampled and tested for BSE. The bull calves depopulated at Sunnyside, WA, were not sampled because they were too young for the BSE agent to be detected. There have been a total of 255 samples taken from the animals depopulated in the Mabton index herd, the herds in Mattawa, Connell, Quincy, Tenino, Moxee, Othello, and the second Mabton facility, as well as facilities in Boardman, OR, and Burley, ID. All samples have tested negative for BSE.

International Review Subcommittee Report

The report from the International Review Subcommittee was delivered to the Secretary's Advisory Committee for Foreign Animal and Poultry Diseases last Wednesday morning, Feb 4th. That same afternoon, the Co-chairs of the Advisory Committee and members of the Subcommittee provided the Secretary of copy of the report and briefed her on its content.

The International Team commended the Secretary on the open and transparent manner in which this investigation was conducted and the manner in which their findings were reported to the public and media.

The report identified several positive findings and actions taken by the US since finding this BSE positive cow:

They commended the Department on the comprehensive and thorough epidemiological investigation, and suggested all relevant information had been obtained at this point. Their recommendation to conclude the investigation is consistent with the actions we have taken to do just that.

They stated that the tracing and recall of the rendered meat and bone meal (MBM) that may have been contaminated with specified risk materials from the index case was effective and appropriate.

They indicated that the U.S. ban on SRMs from cattle over 30 months of age removes the highest risk tissues from the human food supply and is in accordance with international standards

The Subcommittee confirmed the action taken by the Secretary in her December 30th announcement to prohibit air injection stunning for slaughter animals.

In addition, the Subcommittee confirmed the validity of the Secretary's announcement to prohibit Advanced Meat Recovery (or AMR) and mechanically separated meat from cattle over 30 months.

The Subcommittee recognized the food safety merit of prohibiting nonambulatory cattle from entering the human food supply, while cautioning the challenges this action presents to our surveillance efforts.

They confirmed that the testing of all normal cattle slaughtered for human consumption to be scientifically unjustified, both in terms of protecting human and animal health.

They recommended the adoption of rapid screening tests, which is consistent with the Department's announcement to accept applications for licensure of such tests.

The Subcommittee acknowledged the importance of effective animal identification and traceability systems, again consistent with the Secretary's announcement to accelerate the implementation of such a plan within the US.

The subcommittee acknowledged the efforts of the US government to follow a science-based approach to policy formulation.

They also recognized the US efforts to act responsibly with regard to containment and proper destruction of risk materials in order to protect human health, animal health, and the environment
The Subcommittee also made several recommendations, all of which are being fully analyzed by USDA and our Food and Drug Administration colleagues. These include:

A recommendation for a very aggressive surveillance program that tests all high-risk animals (that is, nonambulatory animals and animals with central nervous system disorders) greater than 30 months of age. This testing would be for a one year period. The results from that intensive surveillance could then be considered in an evaluation of the overall BSE program. The Subcommittee also suggested that consideration be given to random sampling of animals greater than 30 months of age at slaughter, to encourage disease reporting at the farm level.

The Subcommittee recommended that a number of laboratories throughout the United States should be approved by USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories or "NVSL" to conduct screening tests as part of the national surveillance program. The national reference laboratory should remain within NVSL, and NVSL should be responsible for confirmatory and proficiency testing.

The subcommittee urged the United States to collaborate with the global community in the evaluation and validation of new BSE diagnostic tests.

As for feed issues, the Subcommittee recommends banning SRMs from all animal feed as well as excluding all mammalian and poultry protein from ruminant feed. This recommendation is based on the possibility of cross-contamination in a ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban

The Subcommittee emphasized the need for an effective educational and outreach program on BSE.
The Subcommittee recognized that the North American BSE situation vividly demonstrates the unwarranted and very significant social and financial impact when importing countries fail to comply with science-based international rules regarding trade. The subcommittee hopes that the United States will continue to demonstrate leadership in trade matters by adopting import/export policy in accordance with the science and international standards. By continuing to do so, we can help to discourage irrational trade barriers when countries identify their first case of BSE.

Trade Issues

Specific trade information can be found at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/bse/
trade/bse_trade_ban_status.html.

Other Issues

Additional information on BSE can be obtained by visiting the USDA website at http://www.usda.gov/. Past BSE updates can also be found at http://www.aphis.usda.gov


[/b]

 

[rwtherefords]

Thanks Frenchie for your reply. I think you make some valid points. I hope you thought I made some too. Either way, is ok by me.

 

[frenchie]

Thanks Frenchie for your reply. I think you make some valid points. I hope you thought I made some too. Either way, is ok by me.

I actually rather enjoyed the discussion....

 

[houstoncutter]

The only thing that confuses me about your point, is your belief that packers cannot keep track of animals on the kill floor, and cutting floor. If they cant, then they cannot sell to Japan. They have already said that they could comply. Their words, not mine. If that is the case, its not a burden for them to comply with COOL regs

 

[frenchie]

The only thing that confuses me about your point, is your belief that packers cannot keep track of animals on the kill floor, and cutting floor. If they cant, then they cannot sell to Japan. They have already said that they could comply. Their words, not mine. If that is the case, its not a burden for them to comply with COOL regs

They need to do a better job then this then.


Union: Meat plants violate mad cow rules
Banned brains, spinal cords may still enter food supply
By Jon Bonné
MSNBC
Updated: 6:21 p.m. ET Dec. 20, 2004
Parts of cattle supposedly banned under rules enacted after the nation's first case of mad cow disease are making it into the human food chain, according to the union that represents federal inspectors in meat plants.

The National Joint Council of Food Inspection Locals, which represents meat and poultry inspectors in federally regulated plants nationwide, told the U.S. Department of Agriculture in a letter earlier this month that body parts known as "specified risk materials" were being allowed into the production chain.

The parts include the brains, skulls, spinal cords and lower intestines of cattle older than 30 months. These body parts, thought to be most likely to transmit the malformed proteins that cause bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease, were banned from the human food supply by USDA officials last January.

The union based its Dec. 8 complaint on reports from inspectors in several states, though it declined to say which ones.

It said that the inspectors found heads and carcasses of some cows on slaughter and processing lines that were not always correctly marked as being older than 30 months.,. If they are able to segrate whats the problem here
. That age is the cutoff for rules governing the use of higher-risk materials in human food; any animal older than 30 months must have any such parts removed before it can be cut up into meat.

[But plant employees responsible for checking the age of cattle were not always marking each older carcass. In the course of their regular work, inspectors on the processing lines checked cattle heads themselves and found some from older animals that had been passed through unmarked.

"We couldn't determine that every part out of there was from a cow under 30 months," Stan Painter, the union's chairman, told MSNBC.com. "There was no way to determine which one was which."

The government and the beef industry frequently point to the SRM ban, as it is known, as the single best measure to ensure that any meat possibly infected by mad cow disease is kept out of the human food supply. The ban was enacted this year after the first U.S. case of the disease was detected in a Washington state dairy cow in December 2003.

Research has shown that most of the risk from infected animals lies in neural tissue, such as the brain, not muscle meat. Mad cow disease has been linked to a related human disease; both are always fatal.

USDA spokesman Steven Cohen said the ban was working, as were age checks on cattle. "We feel very strongly that this is being done," Cohen said. "It's being done correctly, and it's being verified by the people whose job it is to do that."



Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, or mad cow disease, belongs to a family of diseases called Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies or TSE's.
Encephalopathies are diseases of the brain. Spongiform comes from the fact that the brain takes on the structure of a sponge and transmissible means the disease can be spread.



TSEs are diseases of the central nervous system and slowly cause its failure. All have long incubation periods lasting from months to years. There is no cure and they are always fatal.


TSEs occur somewhat randomly, and the cause is unidentified.
TSEs are familial or inherited, which means they are passed on genetically from parents to offspring.

The source of TSEs are from outside the animal.




• Print this

Federal oversight for the age checks is usually performed by offline inspectors — usually a more senior inspector at a plant who handles larger issues such as food safety plans. They are directed to perform spot checks on plant employees who perform the age checks using paperwork as well as indicators such as the growth of the animals' teeth.

But current oversight would cover a small fraction of the total animals that pass through any given plant —." just 2 percent to 3 percent, by the union's estimate.."

In its letter, sent to the head of the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, the union also reported that some inspectors were "told not to intervene" when they saw body parts of some older animals, sent for packing with those of younger animals. This is despite export requirements for certain parts that have been set by U.S. trading partners.

Specifically, the union said, kidneys from older animals were sent down the line to be packed for the Mexican market, which prohibits them from cows over 30 months. When the inspectors complained, Painter said, "The agency basically told the inspectors, 'Don't worry about it.'"

Cohen said the age checks, which are usually performed before slaughter, are meant to be handled by supervisors and veterinary medical officers. "It is not the online inspectors whose role it is to determine" an animal's age, Cohen said. Pass the buck some more

"The inspector on the line's role is to look for disease," he said. "If an online inspector feels as though something is not being done they should talk to their supervisors."

The online inspectors performed the checks on their own amid concerns that older animals were not being marked as such, according to the union and to an attorney familiar with the matter.

The cases referenced in the letter were apparently reported to supervisors and to USDA district offices, Painter said, but the inspectors were told, "Don't worry about it. That's the plant's responsibility."

The union has not yet received a response, he added. Cohen said the agency would have a response soon, and noted that the department's inspector general is auditing how well plants comply with the ban.


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