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by reducing testing for it:
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/business/14099720.htm
WASHINGTON — Despite the confirmation of a third case of mad cow disease in the United States, the government intends to scale back testing for the brain-wasting disorder.
The Department of Agriculture boosted its surveillance after finding the first case of mad cow disease in the United States in 2003. About 1,000 tests are run daily, up from about 55 daily in 2003.
The testing program detected an infected cow in Alabama last week, and further analysis confirmed Monday that the animal had mad cow disease.
Still, a reduction in testing has been in the works for months. The department’s chief veterinarian, John Clifford, mentioned it when he announced the new case of mad cow disease. “As we approach the conclusion of our enhanced surveillance program, let me offer a few thoughts,” Clifford said, explaining America will follow international standards for testing.
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns pointed out testing is not a food safety measure. Rather, it is a way to find out the prevalence of the disease.
Higher testing levels were intended to be temporary when they were announced two years ago.
Yet consumer groups argue that more animals should be tested, not fewer. Officials have not finalized new levels, but the department’s budget proposal calls for 40,000 tests annually, or about 110 daily.
“This would be a tenth of a percent of all animals slaughtered,” Jean Halloran, director of food policy initiatives at Consumers Union, said Tuesday. “This starts to be so small that in our opinion, it approaches a policy of don’t look, don’t find.”
Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa said the confidence of American consumers and foreign customers is at risk. “USDA ought to continue a sound surveillance testing program to demonstrate that U.S. beef is indeed safe and that … safeguards are, in fact, working,” said Harkin, senior Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee.
Consumer groups want every animal to be tested, said Gary Weber, head of regulatory affairs for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association in Denver.
“It’s not cost-effective; it’s not necessary,” Weber said. “The consumers we’ve done focus groups with are comfortable that this is a very rare disease and we’ve got safeguards in place.”
He mentioned government protections to keep the disease from the food chain for people or animals. “All those things add up to safety,” he said.
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/business/14099720.htm