(Not) Testing for mad cow disease

Fewer than 1% of slaughtered cows are currently tested for "mad cow" (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) under Agriculture Department guidelines. Kansas-based Creekstone Farms wants to conduct more comprehensive testing to satisfy demand from overseas customers in Japan and elsewhere. The Bush administration urged a federal appeals court to stop them from testing all their animals.

"But Creekstone attorney Russell Frye contended the Agriculture Department's regulations covering the treatment of domestic animals contain no prohibition against an individual company testing for mad cow disease, since the test is conducted only after a cow is slaughtered. He said the agency has no authority to prevent companies from using the test to reassure customers.

Larger meatpackers have opposed Creekstone's push to allow wider testing out of fear that consumer pressure would force them to begin testing all animals too. Increased testing would raise the price of meat by a few cents per pound."

Source: Time magazine online.