A University of Louisville neurologist has published a report questioning the safety of farmed fish that are fed cattle byproducts, which could allegedly present a risk of transmitting mad cow disease to humans. Robert P. Friedland, et al, “Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy and Aquaculture,” Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease (June 2009). Friedland and his co-authors have urged government regulators to ban feeding cow meat or bone meal to fish until the safety of this common practice can be confirmed. “We have not proven that it’s possible for fish to transmit the disease to humans,” Friedland was quoted as saying. “Still, we believe that out of reasonable caution for public health, the practice of feeding rendered cows to fish should be prohibited. Fish do very well in the seas without eating cows.” Although no cases of mad cow disease have been linked to eating farmed fish, the report claims that this does not…
Tag Archives BSE
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed April 27, 2009, as the effective date for the final rule titled “Substances Prohibited From Use in Animal Food or Feed,” which establishes “measures to further strengthen existing safeguards against bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).” The agency earlier this month considered delaying the rule for 60 days after industry stakeholders requested additional time to arrange alternative disposal methods for high-risk materials. In light of these requests, FDA has set an October 26, 2009, compliance date for renderers and other affected persons, but believes that “the rendering, livestock, meat and animal feed industries have addressed many of the compliance and carcass disposal challenges and are prepared to meet the April 27, 2009, effective date of the final rule.” See Meatingplace.com, April 23, 2009; Federal Register, April 24, 2009.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed delaying for 60 days a final rule titled “Substances Prohibited From Use in Animal Food or Feed,” which establishes “measures to further strengthen existing safeguards against bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).” Scheduled to take effect April 27, 2009, the rule includes provisions that prohibit the rendering of spinal cords and brains from cows older than 30 months. Industry groups have reportedly requested additional time to arrange for alternative disposal methods, prompting the agency to consider pushing back the implementation date to June 26. FDA will accept comments on the proposed delay until April 16, 2009. See Federal Register, April 9, 2009.
FDA is seeking nominations for several public advisory committees, including the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Advisory Committee. This committee evaluates “available scientific data concerning the safety of products which may be at risk for transmission of spongiform encephalopathies having an impact on the public health,” according to FDA. Nominees should have experience in clinical and administrative medicine, hematology, virology, neurovirology, infectious diseases, immunology, transfusion medicine, surgery, internal medicine, biochemistry, biostatistics, epidemiology, biological and physical sciences, sociology/ethics, or other related professions. FDA will accept nominations until it fills all current and upcoming vacancies on the committee. See Federal Register, January 29, 2009.
Cornell University researchers have reportedly developed a nanoscale application that could lead to rapid testing for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES), which partly funded the project, recently highlighted the National Research Initiative (NRI) as a step toward improving the safety of the food supply. “A better method of prion detection is necessary to allay public fears, ensure the safety of the nation’s food supply, and enhance international trade,” stated a CSREES press release. The preliminary testing device is based on a nanotechnology device known as a resonator created by Harold Craighead and his colleagues at Cornell University in conjunction with Richard Montagna at Innovative Biotechnologies International, Inc. “When prions bind to the resonator’s silicon sensor, it changes the vibrational resonant frequency of the device,” according to CSREES. This sensor is able to detect prions in saline solution “at…
The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) recently convened a board meeting to discuss reducing the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) testing requirement for cattle. The Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC) “recognized an increase in the age at which cattle intended for human consumption are BSE tested would represent a ‘minimal to negligible increase in the risk to human health,’” according to an October 15, 2008, press release. FSA has consequently agreed to “support a move to increase the age at which UK cattle are BSE tested from 30 months to 48 months, subject to a review of current and continued BSE surveillance.” FSA Chief Scientist Andrew Wadge also emphasized that other BSE controls offer sufficient consumer protection. “Prevention of exposure to BSE rests primarily with SRM [specified risk material] controls and not BSE testing,” he was quoted as saying. See FSA Press Release, October 15, 2008.
12
