Meatpacker Sues Feds Over Mad Cow Test

The Houston Chronicle ^ | March 23, 2006 | LIBBY QUAID

[Amelia]

HoustonChronicle.com -- http://www.HoustonChronicle.com | Section: Political news

March 23, 2006, 2:36PM

Meatpacker Sues Feds Over Mad Cow Test

By LIBBY QUAID AP Food and Farm Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — A Kansas meatpacker sued the government on Thursday for refusing to let the company test for mad cow disease in every animal it slaughters.

Creekstone Farms Premium Beef says it has Japanese customers who want comprehensive testing. The Agriculture Department threatened criminal prosecution if Creekstone did the tests, according to the company's lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Washington.

[snip]

It would cost about $20 per animal to do the tests, adding about 10 cents per pound to the cost of meat, according to Stewart.

Japan tests nearly all its cattle for mad cow disease. While individual companies there may want more testing in the U.S., Japan's government is not asking the U.S. to do the same.

[Amelia]

I can't understand why the government would forbid them to do the tests, let alone prosecute them for testing. Any insights, anyone?

[festus]

Scared to find the answer maybe ?

[Farmer Dean]

maybe the mad cow problem is a lot more widespread than the government is letting on.By suppressing the truth,they save the export market.

[CindyDawg]

Don't ask questions you don't want answers to?

[FreePaul]

I don't know specifics about this but it makes the Agriculture Department sound as if they are protecting their turf rather that consumers. On the other hand I wonder about a meat packer that can get only two hundred pounds of meat from a cow.

[joesnuffy]

The same reason the Amity Island chamber of Commerce wouldn't let Sheriff Brody shut down the beaches....

[CindyDawg]

Since when can you not test for whatever you want though?

[B4Ranch]

This could push this companies meat to become a high demand item which would force all the other companies to render the same service.

The large meat packers do not want to do this so they have pushed the USDA to forbid publishing the results of independent testing.

[spetznaz]

That is quite interesting for sure. Although the few cases of Mad Cow that have been discovered have had significant impact on our beef, thus there must be great incentive for the Feds to discourage 100% testing. After all, the more the testing the greater the chance of finding something that would make the Japanese/etc clamp down on US beef sales. Thus it is quite 'understandable' even though it is tantamount to a don't look-don't find approach.

[Amelia]

Scared to find the answer maybe ?

That was the impression I got, which makes me want to stop eating beef altogether....

[Amelia]

I don't know specifics about this but it makes the Agriculture Department sound as if they are protecting their turf rather that consumers.

That would be a surprise, wouldn't it? ;-)

[Calvin Locke]

For all the above, and if Mad Cow is erradicated from North America, Chuckie Schumer would have one less thing to run
over people while racing to find a live shot, would give the LDCs something to complain that its unfair for the US to
have safe food, and if the US/Canada has safe cattle, it would make other file unfair trade practices....

[Amelia]

Since when can you not test for whatever you want though?

Well, exactly. If they are willing to do the tests, and consumers are willing to pay more for beef that has been tested and certified, what's the problem?

I read the article several times, hoping it would make sense, but it never did...so I thought someone here might have an answer (other than the "coverup" conclusion I'd come to...)

[Amelia]

This could push this companies meat to become a high demand item which would force all the other companies to render the same service.

If consumers are willing to pay more for meat they deem "safer", I don't see what the problem is.

Except more trouble for the meatpackers.

[Amelia]

LOL

[ex-Texan]

The U.S. government has been covering up the truth for years. While openly disputing reports about Mad Cow, the U.S. allows ranchers and dairy farms to feed cattle tainted feed. Cattle feed is 'beefed up' with remains from slaughter houses including parts of spinal cord and brain matter. So too the chicken and turkey industry which supplements feed with millions of tons of crapola. Oh, the beef industry buys this crapola, too. The food industry does not want to change its ways. Why do so, when industry lobbyists already have passed out millions in campaign donations to members of Congress? When the truth finally comes out people will be outraged. Food store and fast food chain stock may be in for a rough ride in the future. [very old reports - scroll down] Bird flu and now Mad Cow or visa versa. Not for me to worry, anyway. I gave up eating in fast food restaurants years ago.

[xarmydog]

Out of sight,out of mind,as the old saying goes.I dont trust anything the Govt.does or says.That makes me sad.Who can you trust?

[Roccus]

Yet another reason for my freezer-full of venison. Since I butchered each animal personally, I also know what parts of the animal are in each package.

[digger48]

You weren't supposed to notice that. This is an AP story, I hope everyone realizes. It's intent is to make the administration look bad, whether they deserve to, or not.

[NRA2BFree]

This is globalism in action! The government has been lying and covering up the number of deaths in America caused by the Mad Cow Disease. They KNEW before they shipped beef to Japan that there were deaths in America, and they failed to tell Japan the truth. They opened up the market for Canadian beef coming into America and it's not tested either. They failed to tell any of us the truth! Every time we eat beef, we are in danger because of not testing it all.