AR-News: Tell USDA to exclude cow rectum and anus from human food too

[Michael Greger, M.D.]

The USDA is accepting public comments on their new mad cow 
regulations (http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/news/2004/bseregs.htm) up 
until April 12, 2004.

One proposal is to exclude the small intestines from cattle from 
human consumption. In Europe, though,  all of the intestines are 
excluded from human food, from the small  intestine down to the 
rectum,[1]  in part because there is concern that the colon may also 
be infectious.[2]

Email the USDA at 
<mailto:FSIS.RegulationsComments at usda.gov>FSIS.RegulationsComments at usda.gov 
and tell them that they should follow Europe's example and exclude 
cow rectum, colon, and anus from the American food supply from 
animals of all ages.

Another proposal is to exclude skull, brain, eyes, vertebral column, 
and spinal cord from processing into meat products from cows over 30 
months of age even though infection has been found in the brains of 
cattle as young as 20 months.[3]  In  Europe, these risky tissues are 
excluded from any cow over only 12 months of age.[4]  In the U.S. the 
brains, eyes, and spinal cords from cattle under 30 months "can be 
rendered to produce products  identified as beef stock, beef extract, 
and beef flavoring without any identification of the source materials 
other than 'beef'..."[5]

[1] Official Journal of the European Communities. Commission Decision 
of 27 December 2000. 
http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/bse/bse23_en.pdf
[2]  European Scientific Steering Committee. Listing of Specified 
Risk Materials. 
http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/ssc/out22_en.pdf.
[3]  http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/bse/bse-statistics/bse/yng-old.html
[4] Official Journal of the European Communities. Commission Decision 
of 27 December 2000. 
http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/bse/bse23_en.pdf
[5]  Federal Register. Docket No. 03-038IF. 
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FRPubs/03-038IF.htm
-- 
Michael Greger, M.D.
Chief Medical Investigator for Farm Sanctuary
	http://www.nodowners.org
BSE Coordinator for the Organic Consumers Association
	http://www.organicconsumers.org/madcow.htm
(206) 312-8640
mhg1 at cornell.edu
185 South St #6
Boston, MA 02130

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