The new blood test

[kato]

I was talking to a sales rep from an animal health company, and she told me that a lot of the reason they even have an animal division, is to do research and groundwork for human health.

I would think that the next step for this new blood test, if it works out, is to develop one for humans.

[grassfarmer]

Interesting to read this story from the UK dated October 2003:
"There were 36,700 cases of BSE in 1992, which has been reduced to just over 500 so far this year(2003)

"There have been 77 confirmed BSE cases in the UK where the animals were born after August 1996, 49 of them in the past 12 months, eight in the past three weeks."

"The paper says that the "sudden" increase in cases will be looked at by the BSE advisory committee, Seac.
The group is expected to report that contaminated feed is the most plausible cause for the disease."

Now it looks like they are blaming contaminated feed on feed imported from other countries that didn't comply with the meat and bone meal ban until 2001.
Why will no-one take another look at Mark Purdeys theories because the old contaminated feed theory doesn't look to plausable.

[ALICIA]

You's are leading me to believe that if we test every animal for bse, we are sure to come up with another case.
Well I think that would be good because then the case would be cought and desposed of before it got into the food chain.
So I'm for testing every animal and this way we can say with a 100% that the beef is safe.
Plus it looks like that only the downer animals are being positive, so how many heathy looking animals got throw.
I belive that beef is suppost to hang for 7 to 10 days, so the shipping of box beef that cures on root will have to stop. So surely the test results can't be back within 10 days.
The excuse not to could only be that it would involve to much man power. And lab tech. do not work cheep. For the amould of beef that is killed daily, it would take a lot of personal to test each and every kill.
So I guess it is a cost issure. The goverment doesn't what to spend the money on food safty, it would rather see farmer not farming because by the time the people realize there is no food that goverment that is in power will be long gone, and its then someone else's problem. Pass the Buck

[cowman]

And should we trust the science Linda? The science that says one thing but does another? Example the 450 calves to be incinerated. Does this follow the science? Or the continuing ban on Canadian cattle to the USA? Is this supported by science?
Are hormones and GMO food safe? Science says yes...the consumer says no! Perhaps the consumer no longer trusts the scientists? Do you personally like the idea of GM foods or chemicals in our food?
When we see all these weird diseases what are we to think? I am sure BSE is partly a result of very unhealthy agricultural practices, including feeding animal parts to animals that are herbivores. At least the huge increase in the number of cases. But where did it come from? Where did all the cancer come from? When we pollute our world do we also set the stage to kill ourselves off?
Purdys ideas make sense to a dumb old farmer like me. Apparently they make sense to some scientists while others reject them outright. What do you think would happen if it was ever proven that this Mad Cow thing was the result of a chemical soup we put on our animals?
I have to agree with grassfarmer. We need to take a close look at Purdys theories. And we need independent scientists to do the work...not the old boys over at Monsanto and Pfizer?

[carebear300]

There must be something that I am missing about this whole debate. If you test every animal that is to be slaughtered there is no danger at all of an infected carcass getting into the food supply period is there? So get with the program and test every one and if an infected carcass is found dispose of that carcass end of the story and end of the danger to the consumer period. If this was done there would be no big hullaballoo over the discovery and I dont think it would even have to be announced to the media and the general public. Am I wrong? Is there something that I don't understand? Just an old farmer that doesn't catch on as fast as everybody else likely!!!!!

[ianben]

Cakadu
I am 100% in total agreement with informing consumers based on logic and science - not fearmongering and innuendo. That way we are able to make our choices based on solid information.

So am I and this is what UK government all along.
Logic and science says BSE will not cross species hence the claims beef was safe.
Then they thought it had and logic and science said lots of people will get CJD and die

Still a question in my mind as to wether it ever has.

The whole problem is there are no proven facts.

Just loads of theories all trying to match the facts to the history.

No theory seems to cover all bases in my view.

Time scale of BSE/CJD does not give quick answers.

No-one knows when beef from infected animals is safe The day before it tested positive, two weeks before or two years before.I dont believe we even know if anyboby would catch CJD if they ate it.

Logic and science got us into this mess but it will be a long time before they get us out.

[Muttley]

With all this talk of BSE and disease it's just about making me become a vegetartian. I guess there is no way we can assure everyone meat is safe.
Think about it, it can take years for something like BSE to show signs. Who's to say a healthy looking animal doesn't harbour the disease.
If you go through all the posts it just about makes a cattleperson want to eat lettuce and carrots for supper.( I said just about, got to go now the wife says my tofu burger is ready)!!!!

[ivbinconned]

NOT ME! I didn't evolve to the top of the food chain eating brocole!

[enough]

You have to admit that our evolution of the food chain has changed over the last years. More heart victums, cancer is on the rise. Perhaps many of you need to eat more healthy.
I believe that much of our disease and illness can be linked to our perservatives, chemical on plants, and now perhaps cattle.

[enough]

One thing I forgot to mention is to ivbinconned. By reading what you say I doubt that you are anywhere near the top of the food chain.

[cakadu]

I have to say that I haven't heard much about the calves and I'm sorry that they will all have to needlessly be slaughtered. From what I have heard, it is because they cannot readily identify the calf in this herd which seems to me to point to having a better record keeping system.

Some years ago, when Quebec had problems with scrapie in sheep, they had to cull many whole flocks because they could not go out into a field and say that is sired by this one, this is a dam to another one so rather than take any chances, they killed them all. It seems to me this is a similar circumstance there? Is this true?

I would prefer to see less chemicals on my food Cowman, and believe that genetic engineering has to be looked at on a case by case basis. Too much of it was blown out of proportion by the media and minority groups who have been very vocal about it. It was also very poorly handled by the companies proposing it - so all in all it was and has been a marketing nightmare.

After discovering how many times a potato can potentially be sprayed - more than 7 - (and Rod can correct me if I'm wrong) I would wholeheartedly opt for a bt potato that doesn't have to be sprayed as much.

Many of the plants require less spraying, therefore it is better for the environment - which is what many of the organic people want too. Let's face it cowman, the whole thing is based on big business. Groups like Greenpeace have gotten over $175 million for "the cause" and who ever heard of the Council of Canadians before the GMO issue surfaced? Don't kid yourself - it is big business. It is also big business for organic groups as well, because that is one of the so-called 'allowable' chemicals that they can use. I have never been able to understand why it is okay to spray it everywhere and yet it is so very bad to have it contained in a plant. Again - big business.

I don't advocate for a moment carte blance and damn the consequences. Canola is the perfect example of genetic engineering and has anyone gotten sick from it, notwithstanding too much fat in one's diet?

I think it comes down to people not understanding traditional plant breeding techniques and the fact that you don't plant the same seeds that your grandmother planted because of improvements to the seed.

We all have to find our credible sources of information and I do go to mine when I need answers. Trust me, I do ask the tough questions and expect to have a dialogue with the scientists.

The blood testing will be no different. Carebear, from what I can gather, because BSE is a reportable disease, we wouldn't be able to just test and pull the animals off the line. Wouldn't we be required to report every time we came across a case? Then the next step wouldn't the next step be to quarantine to see what else happens? It seems to me that with the testing, certain other things are going to have to happen as well, such as a total ban on animals in animal food and that ban would have to be strictly enforced with stiff penalties. Wouldn't a whole host of protocols have to change?

[cowman]

Linda: I suspect your ideas and mine are not much different when it comes to food safety and the need for chemicals. I'm not "Mr. Organic"! I'll use chemicals if that is what is called for...but I also see a lot of overuse.
There is an organic farmer just north of Innisfail Alta. who grows veggies using no sprays and chemical fertilizer. In fact he uses no manure even. He sells his products at the big farmers market in Calgary. His produce, especially his potatoes, are superb! So it can be done. Of course it comes with a healthy price tag!
I believe GM canola is a good thing. It sure cleaned up the thistles! And Roundup is close to one of the safest chemicals.
I also believe "Enough" has stated some things that I can agree with about how we need to look at our eating habits. If he could phrase his comments in a more gentle manner I'm sure most would agree with him?