How did I get the roll of representing the dark side? Hopefully people realize that I am simply providing another view and trying to generate discussion.
I have to look for the logic in things.
1) The consumer is Canada is not walking away from beef? If anything, beef consumption is increasing at the expense of other meets. Further, I would argue that trade restrictions are government decisions based on a whole bunch of issues and not a consumer one. A Japanese/US store cannot make a purchase decision even on a labeled product.
2) Again it comes down to risk factors. BSE is found in mostly specified risk material and minimally in meat cuts (my understanding as a layman). Similarly, the expression of disease only occurs in older animals (don't know if this number is 20 months, 30 months, etc.).
3) Is guaranteeing a 100 % (not 99.9999%) risk free realistic? We can name dozens of products (tobacco, alcohol, etc.) that kill thousands of people every year in horrible ways and yet they are still sold. As farm managers, you bring family, friends and employees onto your farm into situations that are potentially risky. You have protocols including training to ensure people are safe but the guarantee is not 100 %.
4) With regards to your question would I intentionally feed my guests beef I knew had BSE, the answer would be no. Looking at my behavior (and those of my urban neighbors), I have increased beef consumption. I have no trouble telling my urban neighbors I have confidence in our food safety systems both today and their ability to adapt to new realities. If through testing BSE is found to more of an issue than expected, then I will seek out beef products that have tracking protocols and which I can have confidence (my choice as a consumer realizing that beef costs relative to other meats/protein sources may increase and my consumption will decrease similarly). If the BSE became an epedemic, I would stop eating beef.
Just as a final question, what is the objective of testing? Satisfy consumer needs at the perception level? Ensure food safety? Identify the level of the problem? Find and weed out BSE infected animals to ensure it doesn't spread?
I have to look for the logic in things.
1) The consumer is Canada is not walking away from beef? If anything, beef consumption is increasing at the expense of other meets. Further, I would argue that trade restrictions are government decisions based on a whole bunch of issues and not a consumer one. A Japanese/US store cannot make a purchase decision even on a labeled product.
2) Again it comes down to risk factors. BSE is found in mostly specified risk material and minimally in meat cuts (my understanding as a layman). Similarly, the expression of disease only occurs in older animals (don't know if this number is 20 months, 30 months, etc.).
3) Is guaranteeing a 100 % (not 99.9999%) risk free realistic? We can name dozens of products (tobacco, alcohol, etc.) that kill thousands of people every year in horrible ways and yet they are still sold. As farm managers, you bring family, friends and employees onto your farm into situations that are potentially risky. You have protocols including training to ensure people are safe but the guarantee is not 100 %.
4) With regards to your question would I intentionally feed my guests beef I knew had BSE, the answer would be no. Looking at my behavior (and those of my urban neighbors), I have increased beef consumption. I have no trouble telling my urban neighbors I have confidence in our food safety systems both today and their ability to adapt to new realities. If through testing BSE is found to more of an issue than expected, then I will seek out beef products that have tracking protocols and which I can have confidence (my choice as a consumer realizing that beef costs relative to other meats/protein sources may increase and my consumption will decrease similarly). If the BSE became an epedemic, I would stop eating beef.
Just as a final question, what is the objective of testing? Satisfy consumer needs at the perception level? Ensure food safety? Identify the level of the problem? Find and weed out BSE infected animals to ensure it doesn't spread?
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