Canadians Can Continue to Enjoy Beef with Confidence
According to Keeler, Canadians can continue to enjoy beef with confidence as Canada now has even more safeguards in place to protect our food supply. "Food and Drug Regulations prevent those parts of cattle, which are considered specified risk material (SRM) for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), from entering the human food chain."
SRMs are tissues, which are removed from the human food supply because they may contain BSE infectivity, such as the brain, spinal cord, and other parts of the central nervous system. The law requires the removal of all SRM from product destined for consumption and prohibits the use of SRM in food for human consumption.
"From a human health perspective, this amendment to the regulations is an additional measure to ensure the safety of beef, regardless of the number of animals that may test positive for BSE," explains Keeler.
Even though the recently discovered case of BSE in a the U.S. has been identified as having Canadian origins, Keeler believes that Canada will continue to qualify for a "Minimal Risk" status for BSE. BSE status ratings from the World Organization for Animal Health, the Office International des Epizooties (OIE), are based on an evaluation of current animal health practices and regulations. Under OIE guidelines, one requirement for Minimal Risk status is that the rate of BSE cases must be less than one case per million head of cattle per year.
"There was a possibility that a small number of animals born before the feed ban, such as this Holstein cow, might develop this disease," says Keeler. "And the measures are in place to prevent potentially infected tissue from entering the food supply."
Canada has put in place strong systems to stop the potential spread of BSE to other animals and to the human food chain. Since 1990, BSE has been a reportable disease and imports from BSE affected countries have been banned. In 1992, the government created a national BSE surveillance system. Canada banned the feeding of ruminant-based protein to other ruminants (cattle, sheep etc) in 1997 and implemented a cattle identification program in 2001. As of July 2003, specified risk materials (SRMs) have been defined and prohibited from food. Earlier this week, the USDA announced that it will be implementing similar measures to harmonize the Canadian and U.S. systems.
"We are confident in the processes the Government of Canada has developed to ensure the health of Canadians and to deal with BSE in this country," says Keeler. "We encourage Canadians to once again demonstrate their support of local farmers by enjoying Canadian beef more often."
The Beef Information Centre (BIC), is the marketing division of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association.
