March 28, 2005

Japan confirms 16th mad-cow case

Yet another cow has tested positive for BSE in Japan, just one day before its Food Safety Commission meets to discuss lifting a ban on US beef imports.

Japan has screened every cow slaughtered since September 2001 when it found its first mad-cow case, and halted imports of US beef in December 2003 after a cow in Washington state was discovered to be BSE-infected.  However, the US has still yet to begin inspecting all slaughtered cattle for the disease.