CNN
WA****NGTON (AP) -- The Bush administration on Friday urged a federal
appeals court to stop meatpackers from testing all their animals for
mad cow disease, but a skeptical judge questioned whether the
government has that authority.
Less than 1 percent of slaughtered cows are currently tested for mad
cow disease.
The government seeks to reverse a lower court ruling that allowed
Kansas-based Creekstone Farms Premium Beef to conduct more
comprehensive testing to satisfy demand from overseas customers in
Japan and elsewhere.
Less than 1 percent of slaughtered cows are currently tested for the
disease under Agriculture Department guidelines. The agency argues
that more widespread testing does not guarantee food safety and could
result in a false positive that scares consumers.
"They want to create false assurances," Justice Department attorney
Eric Flesig-Greene told a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
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.
"This is the government telling the consumers, `You're not entitled to
this information,"' Frye said.
Chief Judge David B. Sentelle seemed to agree with Creekstone's
contention that the additional testing would not interfere with agency
regulations governing the treatment of animals.
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Ya know ... I'd prefer some "false positives" to some disease
that eats out the old grey matter ...
I interpret this as "The US beef supply is constantly infected
by "Mad Cow" disease and the meat industry is pressuring it's
bought & paid-for politicians to help them cover-up the problem
because ignorance = PROFITS.".
Sound about right ?
Folks - time to make a BIG stink about this. Takes VERY little
money or effort for small groups to file a blizzard of lawsuits
and requests for injunctions over food safety - coming at the
issue from two dozen different angles to thwart govt attempts
to legally block such actions.
"Mad Cow" is a threat to YOU, and your CHILDREN. Nasty and
incurable - AND THE GOVT IS HELPING COVER-UP THE PROBLEM.
I wonder how many cases of Mad Cow are quietly reclassified
as some other sort of brain/nerve disorder ?
