The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it will completely ban "downer" cattle -- those that are too weak to rise or walk -- from the food supply. It's about time.

Perhaps you're confused. But notice I say completely ban, because USDA instituted a policy against slaughtering downer cattle in 2004. While this policy was heralded as a success for food safety advocates in the aftermath of the first identified case of BSE in the U.S., USDA slipped a lobbyist-influenced exception into its guidance document that essentially formed a loophole.

This exception was codified in the final rule on July 13, 2007, about six months before the Humane Society released its gruesome video of inhumane downer cow treatment that eventually led to the largest beef recall in U.S. history.

But what's disappointing is that, like the meat lobbyists who originally lobbied for the exception but now support the total ban, Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer asserts the new rule is about boosting consumer confidence and is not a response to a food safety issue (what the clear distinction is between the two is beyond me). He explains that "of the 34 million cows slaughtered for food in 2007, fewer than 1,000 were animals that could not stand but were admitted to the slaughterhouse after a second inspection by a veterinarian." Is that supposed to make us feel better?

Shafer explains, "This is not a food safety issue. It never has been...We are trying to eliminate any confusion here."

Eliminate confusion? How about consumer confusion as to why these cattle weren't eliminated entirely to begin with, why our government didn't establish safety precautions (yes, it's a safety issue!) sooner? Now that's a downer.

Source: The Washington Post

Comments (11)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

jack wills covent garden
written by jack wills, December 22, 2009

jack wills universityrel="nofollow" href="http://www.huxhbuy.com/special.html">Cheap North Face
Discount North Face Jacket

• 
• +0
• 
• 

Nike Dunk SB
written by Nike Dunk SB, December 22, 2009

Nike Dunk SB
Air JordansCheap North Face
Discount North Face Jacket

• 
• +0
• 
• 

UGG Classic Tall
written by UGG Classic Mini, December 22, 2009

UGG Classic TallCheap North Face
Discount North Face Jacket

• 
• +0
• 
• 

uggs from china
written by uggs in china, December 22, 2009

Discount North Face Jacket

• 
• +0
• 
• 

Work Boot
written by Work Boot, December 22, 2009

Caterpillar bootCheap North Face
Discount North Face Jacket

• 
• +0
• 
• 

power balance
written by power balance, May 24, 2010

Hot Promotion.& Free Shipping
power balance wholesale
bakugan toy
finger skate

• 
• +0
• 
• 

mbt shoes
written by mbt shoes, July 23, 2010

MBT is the Madonna, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and other big favorite, the "world's smallest gym" of reputation. MBT want to help people around the world have a more healthy, active and happy life. MBT believe that human fitness and health largely affected by the walk way, this view has been confirmed by a number of scientific research. MBT MBT therefore attempt to spread the ideas and concepts of fitness shoes, awaken and strengthen the people's right foot consistent with physiological knowledge, and to direct, simple way, to meet the physiological benefits of the right foot to leave you

• 
• +0
• 
• 

shoes
written by five fingers, August 03, 2010

jordansvibram

• 
• +0
• 
• 

http://www.kicksonnike.com
written by mbt, August 14, 2010

2010zk http://www.mbtshoponline.com he re-interpretation of how to become an outstanding basketball player.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by True Religion jeans, August 17, 2010

This is one of the most incredible blogs Ive read in a very long time. The amount of information in here is stunning, like you practically wrote the book on the subject. http://www.cmonc.com Your blog is great for anyone who wants to understand this subject more. Great stuff; please keep it up!

• 
• +0
• 
• 

http://www.dragonkicks.com
written by cheap jordan shoes, August 26, 2010

Very happy to see this article, I like it very much

• 
• +0
• 
•