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December 27, 2003
What's the beef?
Another case of mad cow disease is beginning to hammer the US beef markets. US citizens are fearing burgers , other countries are banning their imports of US beef, and stocks are already falling for McDonalds and Wendys.
What's the cost for the beef industry in the US? Too much, if you ask this carnivorous eighteen year old. Having followed the situation in the news when mad cow broke out in Britain in 2001, the expectations for the US are truly staggering.
The auditors also cited an FDA estimate that livestock producers would lose a minimum of $12 billion ''based on an assumption that the United States would need to destroy about four times as many cattle as the United Kingdom.''The British outbreak is blamed for the deaths of 143 people... -Boston.com
Who knew one sick animal could cause so much commotion? It started in Washington with just one cow; although apparently there is another disease similar to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) called chronic wasting disease (CWD) that affects deer. Q & A here
Scared to eat any beef?
To me, this is synonymous to the green onions scare that stemmed from the ChiChi's Restaurant hepatitis A outbreak.
Consider yourself warned and informed if you know what's going on and how to protect yourself. Be wary, be cautious, but eat what you want.
Posted by KarissaKilgore at December 27, 2003 11:23 AM
Comments
I noticed that PETA has lost no time in capitalizing on the mad cow disease to advocate its vegetarian position... but I don't recall PETA having much to say about the green onion scare! (Google turns up plenty of PETA recipies that use green onions, though)
Posted by: Dennis G. Jerz at December 27, 2003 11:04 PM
haha! Fascinating observation...
:)
Posted by: Karissa at December 28, 2003 9:10 PM