Why the fear?

The official name of mad cow disease is bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), and affects the nervous system. In humans BSE is called Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. It is a degenerative and fatal neurological disease. It affects the brain and the nervous system. Some have called it a "brain wasting" disease as it makes the brain incapable of handling walking, talking and even mood. BSE generally last 14 months until death and tends to affect younger people.

As of September 5, 2000 officials in England have reported 82 cases of the neurological disease. Germany and Ireland along with France have also reported deaths of people with BSE. Mad cow disease is epidemic in England's cattle. There haven't been any cases of this neurological disorder, nor of mad cow disease, in the United States.

Why is it called "Mad Cow Disease"

The official name of mad cow disease is bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). It is called BSE because the brains of the affected animals actually develop holes, like sponges. People who ate beef from cattle that had mad cow disease have developed a disorder called new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a rare but fatal neurological condition.

BSE was first diagnosed in cattle in Great Britain in 1986. Affected animals act crazy, or "mad," displaying changes in mood such as nervousness or agitation and having difficulty standing up. Such cattle usually die within two weeks to six months. Eating infected beef has been linked to a human version of the disease called new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. This has struck more than 80 people in England and about three people in France. Germany is currently recalling beef and beef products because of a few suspicious deaths that may be from BSE.

It is felt that these cows contracted BSE by eating feed which was made from the bones and parts of dead cows. This type of feed has been banned in the United States for the last 5 years or so but there may be ranchers who have mistakenly given this type of feed to their cattle. The FDA has taken steps to protect cattle from this fatal disease by banning feed from Europe and monitoring U.S. herds for BSE.

It also is important to note that the FDA plans
to inspect each and every facility.

By preventing animal feed makers from including red meat proteins from cows, sheep, goats, deer, or elk in the feed of cud-chewing animals, U.S. regulatory authorities believe they can prevent an epidemic in the U.S. -- even if the infectious agent should make its way overseas. In fact, recent FDA inspections have discovered that about one-third of the companies that process this type of animal feed for pigs and poultry lack a system to prevent it from accidentally being mixed into the feed meant for cattle. The FDA along with state investigators also discovered that a large number of the companies who repackage and sell this feed to livestock farmers fail to properly label their products. Recently, American biochemists and neuropathologists called for additional testing of U.S. cattle amid reports that a herd of 1,222 in Texas had to be quarantined after it was accidentally fed a mix of bone and meat meal.

BSE could have an impact on blood supply.

Currently, there is no way to test for the presence of mad cow disease in blood, and some even debate whether the disorder can be transmitted by blood. But under orders from the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and the American Red Cross, the United States no longer accepts blood donations from people who spent a total of six months or more in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands between 1986 and 1996. These rules were put in place in August of 1999.

What to do?

Right now there is no known case of BSE or it's human form Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Recommendations have yet to be made from any governmental agency. But common sense may led people to decrease or eliminate beef and beef products from their diets until the governmental agencies can do their job and pronounce our beef supply safe.

References:

From the Centers for Disease Control (CDC):
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy ("Mad Cow Disease")
and New Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (nvCJD)
(Released January 29, 2001)

Whole Wheat Linguini & Fresh Tuna
This week's Recipe of the Week features Whole Wheat Linguini and Fresh Tuna. We receive many letters from women and men looking to eat for health. They want their food to not only nourish them but to also make them feel better. Mood swings and bouts of irritability can be traced to what we eat.   The kind of foods and yes, the amounts, affect our temperaments. This recipe is from Molly Siple's best seller Recipes for Change.  This recipe goes a long way to satisfy hunger, load you up on important nutrients, and eliminate those mood sings and periods of irritability.

"Two soy beans up! - - Way up!"
- - Soybean Entertainment Weekly
""I can't believe I ate the whole thing!"
- - Soy & Tofu Times

Afraid of Beef?

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