What has the US done to prevent the spread of BSE?
The United States has implemented a number of measures to prevent the spread of BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) within the country. Some of these measures include:
1. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned the feeding of certain animal proteins, such as meat and bone meal, to cattle. This is to prevent the transmission of BSE through contaminated feed.
2. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has implemented a surveillance program to test cattle for BSE. This includes testing high-risk cattle, such as those showing signs of neurological disease, as well as randomly selected samples from the general cattle population.
3. The USDA has also implemented a system for tracking cattle from birth to slaughter, known as the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). This system helps to quickly trace and contain any potential outbreaks of BSE.
4. The USDA has established a system for verifying the safety of beef products through the Beef Export Verification (BEV) program. This program ensures that beef products meet the necessary safety standards for export to countries that require proof of BSE prevention measures.
Overall, the United States has taken a number of proactive steps to prevent the spread of BSE and protect consumers from the disease.