No mad cow-infected beef will reach RP, says USDA

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) assured yesterday that no US beef contaminated with the dreaded mad cow disease will ever find its way into the Philippine market.

In yesterday’s press briefing, a USDA delegation dispelled growing concerns that US beef exported to the Philippines could be tainted with mad cow disease.

Mad cow disease is the layman’s name for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), a transmissible, slowly progressive, degenerative, fatal disease affecting the central nervous system of adult cattle.

Earlier, the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) issued memorandum 33 that specifies measures that US beef exporters have to comply with to ensure the public’s safety.

One of the measures specify that only deboned and deglanded beef from cattle not older than 30 months, devoid of any nerves and other BSE specified risk materials (SRM) can be imported.

"The USDA understands the decision by DA. However, we are confident that US meat is safe irrespective of the age of the animal. We will continue to keep the government of the Philippines informed of the steps we have taken, how our measures are based on sound science, and the systems we have in place to ensure the safety and wholesomeness of US beef and beef products for our US and international consumers," said Gary Greene, regional director for Asia of the USDA Animal and Plant Inspection Service.

Mad cow SRM include skull, brain, eyes, tonsils, spinal cord, and dorsal root ganglia (clusters of nerve cells connected to the spinal cord) of cattle aged 30 months or older, and the distal ileum (part of the small intestine) of cattle of all ages.

"It is important to note that the BSE agent is not found in skeletal muscle tissue such as steaks and other cuts of meat. The BSE agent is only found in spinal tissue, brains and other parts of the animal not used as human food. US beef cuts are safe and consumption of beef in the US continues to be strong. US beef shipped to the Philippines is the same high quality safe meat eaten by American consumers," said Michael D. Woolsey, director of the USDA Agricultural Trade Office at the US Embassy in Manila.

Greene noted that even if the cattle slaughtered are more than 30 months old, these are still safe for human consumption based on initial studies.