MAD COW DISEASE!!

POSTED BY: piratejenny
UPDATED: Thursday, January 13, 2005 17:40
VIEWED: 2267
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SIGMANUNKI

Monday, January 10, 2005 4:10 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by piratejenny:
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Seriously though, I live in Canada and I've heard of 2 or 3 cases of the past number of years. This doesn't exactly spell mass problem to me. But nontheless, something that should be fixed anyway. We, at least, would like some guarantees'.

I don't think its just Canada, and I don't believe its been 2 or 3 cases, I think they may have only reported 2-3 cases, but I think its far more serious then that, and I don't exspect the truth from the government

Speculation, but I don't doubt you skeptisism given where you live. The US has a history of trying to make itself look as good as possible, even if that means lieing, and others as bad as possible, again, even if that means lieing. So, I don't blame you taking what you're hearing with a grain of salt.

As for Canada, I tend to trust our government for the most part. Once, when I did my income tax, I got some money back, which came in the mail 6-8 weeks later. But, a month or two after that I got another check because they didn't pay me enough. This seems to imply honest to me.

As for mad cow in Canada, I've seen interviews with cattle farmers (Canadian) and there only complaint is that they can't sell there beef. They say that if the government wants 100% testing then fine, just let us sell our beef and make a living.

I think Japan (? I know some do at least) has 100% testing and there industry didn't collapse. So, it is possible to have an industry under those conditions.

I also remember in a conversation with my wife that a country that has 100% testing (UK or Japan, I can't remember which) ran into a single digit number of positive test in a year. So, I would think that the number for north america can't be that much higher.

But, at this point, I really think that it isn't a science debat, but a political one. The WTO has already stated that the US closed the boarders for all the wrong reasons but the US doesn't care. Apparently the process and "ideals" in the US are above international law and any trade agreements that are signed. So, we all wait for the US to go through some undefined process before things get back to the status quo (hopefully with some new regulations).

But, the fact of the matter is that companies, at least out side of the US, are starting to change there tune when it comes to the feed the there animals consume. This is progress and it's just a matter of time before the system is fixed. It's the consumer that'll have to make the desision to buy these products so that the companies keep providing them.

Until then, I'll stick to primarily vegatable feed, free range chicken and pork.

I've also recently decided to stop making meat balls for my spagetti as my stomach does some loops afterwards. I hate getting older

Since that is my primary source of beef, just by doing that I've effectively cut beef out of my diet. That is, aside from the once or twice a year Fat Boy for the local burger place, mmmmmmmmm.

For the record, I support 100% testing in all countries. I support vegtable only feed for animals. And if these things are implimented, that should take care of it for the most part. Now it's just up to us and the governments to get it done.

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"Canada being mad at you is like Mr. Rogers throwing a brick through your window." -Jon Stewart, The Daily Show

SIGNYM

Monday, January 10, 2005 5:51 PM

I also support 100% testing. The tests are now cheap enough and accurate enough so as not to create either an economic burden, or too many false positives (or false negatives).

There are spontaneous cases of mad-cow like disease in many mammals. The protein that misfolds (prion protein) comes in different versions, and some are more "wobbly" and apt to twist around into an unfortunately stable shape. One or two cases in several million does not indicate an endemic problem. The USA making a big deal about Canadian mad-cow is entirely hypocritical, because the USA beef industry is not any safer than Canada's. For years the USA beef industry refused any testing at all because they were afraid of what they might find. Denial created the illusion of safety. So typical of a government under the thumb of big business.

PIRATEJENNY

Thursday, January 13, 2005 6:00 AM

Quote:
I also remember in a conversation with my wife that a country that has 100% testing (UK or Japan, I can't remember which) ran into a single digit number of positive test in a year. So, I would think that the number for north america can't be that much higher. ...

well the UK and Japan I don't know about Canada but those countries have changed their standerds, they don't feed livestock that are herbivors the flesh of other dead animals ..they still do that here so when I hear that everything is ok...I don't belive it..I might believe it if they had changed their standards but they haven't!!

maybe it hasn't reached epidemic portions but I would be willing to bet money that their is a part of the popultion thats been infected!!

SIGMANUNKI

Thursday, January 13, 2005 6:11 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by piratejenny:

well the UK and Japan I don't know about Canada but those countries have changed their standerds, they don't feed livestock that are herbivors the flesh of other dead animals ..they still do that here so when I here that everything is ok...I don't belive it..I might believe it if they had changed their standards but they haven't!!

Canada and the US (because of trade agreements) have the same standards.

Fortunatly, we complained and our companies listened. Things are changing here before the laws change which makes me

I definitly understand your skepticism given your location, but I did make some simple suggestions above.

And if you don't want to eat any meat at any restaurant, then just have a salad and tell them at cash, that you'd love to eat meat there (meat meals typically more expensive = more profit $$$) but you need to be assured of...

After awhile, if enough people do it, they'll get the hint. And hey, you're eating healthy while you're at it and for less money

I'm sorry if this post is disjoint. I've been at various areas of math all day and am about to fall over. Need sleep...

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"Canada being mad at you is like Mr. Rogers throwing a brick through your window." -Jon Stewart, The Daily Show

FINN MAC CUMHAL

Thursday, January 13, 2005 6:39 AM

I’m not quite as concerned with Mad Cow Disease as PirateJenny. I think it unlikely that there will be any widespread latent epidemic, or that some conspiracy exists to cover it up. I think that the disease exists in current beef stocks and has existed for as long as people have been herding cattle. The disease is not readably transferable to humans, and even under current condition, my understanding is that it is very rare even in cattle. This isn’t like smallpox, where a small amount can spread and multiple. So I think a concern of an epidemic is premature.

Although, I do think the cattle industry should avoid using animal byproducts to feed their herds, at least the nervous tissue. This is, to a certain extent, an economic issue. Grain production is approaching a maximum limit. Grains and corns will start to get more expensive in the coming years and feeding cattle grains will not only increase the price of beef, but grains as well.

Personally, I think they should leave the price of grains alone and we should just stop eating so much beef. If it’s an epidemic that your concerned with, PirateJenny, coronary heart disease is the leading (at least one of) cause of death for Americans. And the consumption of beef, along with other fatty meats, is considered to be a major cause of coronary heart disease. Then there’s colon cancer, which beef is also thought to play a big part in. There are lots of reasons to not eat beef that have nothing to do with scary rare brain wasting diseases. So my personal solution is to stop eating the stuff, at least so much of it.

SIGMANUNKI

Thursday, January 13, 2005 5:40 PM

@Finn:
Well, IMO, regardless of how expensive it is to feed an animal its natural diet, it should be done. If only for the health of the animal.

But, provided it isn't done (and even if it is), there should be 100% testing. As SignyM stated, that is economically viable. It's also, IMO, much safer for the public at large.

But yes (wholly crap we agree on something!!! ), we shouldn't eat as much meat as we do. In conversations with friends, I've come across that we humans, only really need about as much meat as fits in the palm of your hand per day.

This isn't exactly a lot. Yet, we eat meat typically at almost every meal and definitly not enough vegetables, fruits, etc.

*sigh* People should really learn more about nutrition and ways to make good tasting healthy meals. Instead, the healthy recipies typically taste like cardboard.

bah.

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"Canada being mad at you is like Mr. Rogers throwing a brick through your window." -Jon Stewart, The Daily Show

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