News & Perspective

(CIDRAP News) – US agriculture officials today announced that the first US case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) since 2006 was found recently in a California dairy cow, but they were quick to add that the case represents no danger to the food supply.

(CIDRAP News) – The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed yesterday to delay by another 2 months a long-planned ban on the use of certain cattle materials in any animal feed, a measure designed to prevent the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease. The ban would take effect Jun 26 instead of Apr 27.

(CIDRAP News) – The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released a report examining the results several developed nations and the European Union achieved when they consolidated oversight of food safety in a single agency, a step often advocated in the United State for solving some of the problems linked to contaminated imported and domestic food.

(CIDRAP News) – The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday announced a ban on certain cattle materials from all animal feed starting next year, an action designed to protect animals and humans against bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease.

(CIDRAP News) – Canadian officials today reported the country's 11th case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, but said it will not affect Canada's BSE risk status as defined by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

(CIDRAP News) – Two months from now, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) plans to open the US border to older Canadian cattle and beef for the first time since bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, emerged in Canada in 2003.

Following through on plans announced in January, the USDA said last week it would lift the restriction on older cattle and beef, along with certain other cattle parts, on Nov 19.

(CIDRAP News) – Canada broadened its safeguards against bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, yesterday by banning the use of cattle brains, spinal cords, and certain other body parts from all animal feeds, pet foods, and fertilizer.

(CIDRAP News) – Canada recently confirmed its tenth case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease—its second of 2007.