US finds 2nd case of mad cow disease
Reuters, Washington
The US government Friday confirmed its second case of mad cow disease, prompting consumer groups to call for broader testing of cattle as the meat industry defended existing safeguards. The US Department of Agriculture said it was investigating the herd of the infected beef cow, which was described as at least 8 years old. Meat from the cow was not sold to consumers or as animal feed. US Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said the USDA would change some testing procedures, but defended current safeguards as more than adequate to protect consumers. "The BSE threat to humans in this country is so remote that there's a better chance you'll get hurt crossing the street to get to the grocery store than by the beef you buy in the grocery store," Johanns said at a news conference. The first case of the disease 18 months ago prompted Japan and Korea to halt imports of billions of dollars of US beef. Neither has yet resumed American purchases, but Johanns said he did not expect the new case to hurt negotiations.
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