July 16, 2004

U.S. Beef Safety Improved
 
Efforts by the United States to detect mad cow disease is making the country's beef supply more safe, United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman said in Washington.

Veneman touted a practice implemented following a December mad cow scare, one noted by Tyson Foods spokesman Gary Mickelson.

"The meat industry, including Tyson Foods, supports USDA's expanded (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) surveillance program," he said. "However while testing has significance, it's not a silver bullet."

Mickelson and Veneman said what is most important is the industry's practice of diverting all parts of the beef animal that could potentially contain BSE from the human food chain during processing.

The USDA implemented increased BSE surveillance June 1, with a goal of testing around 268,000 cows within 18 months.

Nearly 16,000 animals had been tested by last week. Most animals tested are those deemed high-risk because of immobility or other symptoms.

Two inconclusive tests later proved to be negative for the disease.

Japan's borders closed to U.S. beef following the finding of mad cow disease in a Washington-state dairy cow in late December.

Japan purchased about $1.2 billion in U.S. beef in 2003, and a recent USDA report said American exports of beef are expected to fall by about 82 percent this year if current bans remain.