By Mike Barnett
Editor
In violation of USDA's newly adopted procedures concerning "downer" cattle, a suspect cow in San Angelo in late April was not tested for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).
The cow that was ordered destroyed at Lone Star Beef in San Angelo was sent to rendering before USDA could collect brain samples to test for the central nervous system disorder.
According to a joint statement issued by Dr. Ron DeHaven, administrator, USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and Dr. Barbara Masters, acting administrator, USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, a veterinarian from USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service condemned the cow after observing the cow "stagger and fall, indicating either an injury or potentially a central nervous system (CNS) disorder or other health condition.
"Standard procedures call for animals condemned due to possible CNS disorder to be kept until APHIS officials can collect samples for testing," the statement said. "However, this did not occur in this case and the animal was sent to rendering. The rendered product from this animal did not enter the human food chain; it presents no risk to human health."
Media reports indicate both the USDA and its Inspector General have opened investigations into the San Angelo case amid allegations than an off-site supervisor overruled an inspector at Lone Star Beef who wanted to have the animal tested.
Also, according to press reports, USDA has issued what is considered a "gag order" in a May 6 email sent from the agency's district office in Dallas, instructing its inspectors in Texas not to talk to outside parties about the incident.
"We continue to investigate the circumstances of this case and will take appropriate action once all information is available," DeHaven and Masters said.
Lone Star Beef officials have released a written statement saying the company had complied with USDA policy.
"At Lone Star Beef, food safety is our priority at all times," said Burley Smith, company president. "As a result of our strict policies and rigorous firewalls, no product from this animal entered the human food chain. Our stringent safety firewalls worked."
Meanwhile, Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa has taken USDA to task for not testing the suspect cow.
"The Texas cow case calls into question the effectiveness and reliability of USDA's current and proposed surveillance system," Harkin wrote in a letter to Ag Secretary Ann Veneman. "Despite this cow showing symptoms raising concerns about BSE, USDA allowed this animal to be shoved out the back door. USDA needs to correct this immediately to protect American consumers and cattle herds and to restore confidence in our BSE safeguards. We simply cannot tolerate a BSE testing system that fails to give valid answers to critical questions for U.S. consumers and foreign customers."
USDA's enhanced surveillance program will kick off June 1. The program will target as "many animals as possible" from the populations considered to be at highest risk for BSE, including animals with signs of central nervous system disorders and nonambulatory animals. USDA will also include some 20,000 apparently healthy older animals in the sampling. In addition, USDA said it will provide comprehensive training on USDA BSE sampling collection protocols to APHIS and FSIS employees, state veterinarians, accredited veterinarians, and participating veterinary technicians.
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