Consumers Union calls on USDA for release of data on mad-cow testing
Raises serious concerns about credibility of government surveillance program.
27/07/05 New York, Consumers Union is raising serious questions about the credibility of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) expanded voluntary mad-cow surveillance program and is asking the agency to release details on the more than 400,000 cattle tested. In a letter sent to Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, the group cited serious deficiencies uncovered by the Office of Inspector General in the earlier years of the program.
Consumers Union specifically requested data on:
The geographic location of sampled cattle (including the state where the cow was born, raised, and slaughtered)
The age of the cattle tested (CU currently supports testing of all cattle above 20 months)
The disease/high-risk status of the cattle (for example, did they show symptoms of central nervous system disease, which are common symptoms of mad cow.
Consumers Union’s letter comes after the USDA’s announcement last month that a cow originally pronounced last November to be negative for mad cow disease turned out upon re-testing to be positive.
