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beskeptigal
SFN Die Hard
USA
3834 Posts |
 Posted - 01/24/2006 : 03:19:44
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I am disgusted once again though I don't know yet who to blame.
After Mad Cow the feds were supposed to have banned cow brains, etc from the food supply. And I could have sworn that was what the regulations were. No more animal parts in the cow food and no more cow brains in the people food.
Well, apparently the rules have changed. Now supposedly there is no cow brains from cows older than 30 months in the beef supply.
From Promed:quote:
Date: 24 Jan 2006
From: Hikaru Fukuda <frhikaru@phc-japan.net>
I would like to inform you of your misunderstanding concerning the ban on
US beef by Japan.
There is no misunderstanding between the Japanese and US governments
regarding the maximum age for importing cattle. There is only a difference
of opinion between Japan and the US regarding the definition of specified
risk materials (SRMs).
The USDA defines SRMs as: (1) the brain, skull, eyes, trigeminal ganglia,
spinal cord, vertebral column, and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of cattle 30
months of age and older, and (2) the tonsils and distal ileum of all cattle.
However, the government of Japan defines SRMs as: (1) the brain, skull,
eyes, trigeminal ganglia, spinal cord, vertebral column, dorsal root
ganglia (DRG), the tonsils and distal ileum of all cattle.
Although Americans eat SRMs of cattle younger than 30 months, Japanese
people never eat them.
The US has already agreed with the Japanese government that they accept the
Japanese definition of SRMs, and the US promises not to export SRMs (as
defined by Japan) to Japan.
--
Hikaru Fukuda
Food Safety Commission, Japan
<frhikaru@phc-japan.net>
[We appreciate Hikaru Fukuda's clarification of this situation. - Mod.TG]
I'm not saying Mad Cow is at the top of my worry list and it only affects ground meat, but I am pissed cow brains were either never banned in the first place and I was deceived, or, the regulation allowing brains back in was quietly passed by the pigs in power and I was still deceived.
It is an absolutely unnecessary risk just so the industry can squeeze another dime of profit out of us. It doesn't increase production, it only decreases the number of employees needed to process the meat. A machine can do it if you don't care about spilling brains into the vat, otherwise you need a person.
I wrote a letter to the news department of the Seattle Times hoping to spawn an investigation. I encourage others to do the same with their city's papers if you're up for it. This needs more attention than just the fact Japan re-banned our exported beef.
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Edited by - beskeptigal on 01/24/2006 03:23:56
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