Ann Veneman says my Big Mac won't give me Mad Cow Disease

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.organicconsumers.org/madcow/cows7101.cfm

<snip>In the absence of sufficient inspectors and vigorous monitoring, the agency puts its trust in the beef industry to implement its rules. Allegations that the relationship between the two entities is overly cozy were fortified with the appointment of President Bush's new USDA staff. On Feb. 11 the New York Times reported, "Although they have had a record year, cattle ranchers in the United States now face growing anxiety over mad-cow disease... which could drive down beef prices. But last week, they triumphed when Ann M. Veneman, the new agriculture secretary, named Dale Moore, a lobbyist for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, as her chief of staff. Charles P. Schroeder, the association's chief executive, said the cattle industry was investing heavily in food safety and looking forward to working with its former advocate."

[david_vincent]

1. My investment in "food safety":

not eating beef.

[DrWeird]

2. Of course it won't.

Unless of course the patty comes from a country with a beef industry that has been exposed to Mad Cow disease.

So why do you hate america?

[villager]

3. sure it won't...

...for another 20 or 30 years!

[htuttle]

4. How would she know?

The United States does zero testing for BSE. They only time cattle might get tested is if one starts showing symptoms of BSE, a bright veteranarian might decide to do the test.

That's why this is the 'first' case of Mad Cow in the US. It's the first time one has gotten any publicity.

[Blue Gardener]

5. Exactly

The Beef Industry is very powerful in this country. Remember what they did to Oprah for talking about not eating beef on her show? They don't want people to think there could possibly be a problem here.

[LibertyBe11e]

6. Of course you won't get Mad Cow from your Big Mac.

You can't. MickeyD's don't use real meat. Or if they do, it's the sorriest I've ever seen. :puke:

"Where's the Beef?" LOL

[mmm]

7. Mr. Mad Cow, I have been waiting for you...

I assume your friends are not far behind.

[alfredo]

8. Remember when Reagan dropped the standard for inspection

and the amount of bone meal in your hamburger.

[cosmicdot]

9. "the absence of sufficient inspectors and vigorous monitoring"

:scared:

yeah, that's the ticket

you kids mind yourself while we're gone ... be good now



caption thread
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=561359

[maggrwaggr]

11. well there's your Mad Cow right there!

Man, what a .......... woman!

[Tinoire]

13. Bad, bad Maggrwaggr!

:spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank:

:thumbsup: lol

[NormanConquest]

14. Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence of Kreutzfeld-Jacob!

Oh, who cares? Ronald McRumsfeld says take home two Double Plus Happy Meals this Holiday Season! :crazy:

[Tinoire]

10. ANd she's still telling you that. Transcript of Today's Press conference

Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman, Undersecretary of Agriculture Elsa Murano and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Deputy Administrator Dr. Ron Dehaven at mad cow disease press conference on Tuesday, as transcribed by eMediaMillWorks Inc.:


VENEMAN: Today we received word from USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa, that a single Holstein cow from Washington State has tested as presumptive positive for BSE, or what is widely known as Mad Cow Disease.

Despite this finding, we remain confident in the safety of our food supply. The risk to human health from BSE is extremely low.

The animal tested was a downer cow, or non-ambulatory at the time of slaughter, and was identified as part of USDA's targeted surveillance program.

<snip>

I have been in contact with (Homeland Security) Secretary (Tom) Ridge. And I would emphasize that, based on the information available, this incident is not terrorist related, nor is it related in any way to our nation's heightened-alert status. I cannot stress this point strongly enough.

The safety of our food supply and public health are high priorities of this administration and high priorities of USDA.

In the last year, we have tested 20,526 head of cattle for BSE, which is triple the level of the previous year of 2002.

The presumptive positive today is a result of our aggressive surveillance program. This is a clear indication that our surveillance-and-detection program is working.

<snip>

The rest of the transcript:
http://www.startribune.com/stories/484/4284979.html

[maggrwaggr]

12. but we've got terrorists running the country, so .....

to my mind that DOES make it terror related.

Letting industry police itself! What a .... NAIVE notion!

HA.