Some people misplace keys, others struggle with sunglasses, but the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) loses track of cattle.  This oversight would surely be troublesome in any circumstance, but it is especially so when the cattle may have mad cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) or other health problems. 

All imported cattle are required by law to be tracked with identification and health records.  However, a recent audit completed by the Office of Inspector General reported numerous instances of cattle entering the United States from Canada – where 13 cases of mad cow disease have been detected – without sufficient documentation.  In addition to hundreds of cattle slipping across the border without record, at least 436 animals allegedly sent for slaughter were later unaccounted for.  From a consumer perspective, it is worrisome to think that something could be wrong with the meat that ends up in my burger.
 
Mad cow disease first appeared in Canada in 2003, after which many countries – including the United States – stopped importing Canadian cattle.  However, in the past few years, judging that the disease was no longer a formidable threat, USDA has cut back on the number of cattle tested in the U.S. and reopened U.S. borders to imports from Canada.  The decision to re-open the border has upset a lot of people, especially now that the audit shows that USDA cannot effectively control the imports. Reacting to the problem, R-CALF USA, a cattle industry organization, and a coalition of consumer groups that included Food & Water Watch, sued USDA.  The judge ruled that the decision to allow imports of older cattle – which are more likely to be afflicted by mad cow disease than younger animals – should be reevaluated.  However, as of yet, no substantial reforms have taken place.

Given that our government is struggling to protect our food supply, must we all completely stop eating beef if we hope to stay healthy?  While that is one option, it is not the only one.  Starting in October, food manufacturers will be required to label products with its country of origin.  As a result, consumers will be able to select beef that is known to be from source they trust.  Although companies are not yet obligated to, some already include information about where the product came from.  So look for beef from local sources – even better if it’s grass fed!

- Darcy White

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