Tuesday October 27, 2009, 4:37 pm
Nothing's more Australian than the good old sausage sandwich, sizzled to perfection by Saturday fundraisers outside the hardware store, appeasing the kids while mum or dad picks up the bits and bobs for the latest home reno.
Or so you might have thought.

From the middle of next year, Australia has said that it will lift its import restrictions on beef and slurry (because that's what really goes into sausages, let's be clear) from countries that have reported cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, aka mad cow disease).

We've been guaranteed by Trade Minister Simon Crean that Australia would only be importing products that are BSE-free. But how can he tell? Is he trying to say that the countries we will import from can adequately tell the difference, and can ensure that any BSE-tainted meat is only consumed by their own nationals?

In fact, soon you won't be able to tell if the meat you're eating comes with a dash of "low risk" of degenerative brain disease (ie imported from a BSE-affected country) or "no risk" (ie Australian), because anything that has undergone some form of manufacture in Australia can still be labelled as "Made in Australia". Stuff it in a sausage skin, add a bit of salt and pepper and it's suddenly as Aussie as 'roo meat.

Not wishing to quibble with the statistics that say the risk of contracting variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease (the human form of BSE) is "very small" my real concern is the fact that consumers are being duped. Surely they should be able to choose whether this is a risk they're willing to take? When the stakes are so high, I'm sure most would take "no risk" over "low risk" any day.

The decision to lift import restrictions has been made for trade reasons, with a view that the market will rule. But if the market is to decide whether such imports are acceptable, then the market — that is, consumers — need to be fairly and fully informed. Australia's food labelling regulations are sorely lacking and it has been announced that they are to undergo a long-overdue review. Identifying the origins of ingredients should be top of the list.....more

Tuesday October 27, 2009, 7:33 pm
I suppose they been eatin of these cows to allow this to happen for they are truley mad>>>

Big Gorilly Hugs

Wednesday October 28, 2009, 12:03 am
Nothing surprises me with the Australian government.

Wednesday October 28, 2009, 12:04 am
Yes Gorilly lol,they are mad, so maybe it wont affect them.

Thursday October 29, 2009, 6:09 am
Thanks Cowboss. This is an issue that is as pervasive as GMOs. Our governments say they trust us with critical leadership votes, but they don't believe we can make our own food choices? Label the stuff already and let us decide for ourselves what we will and will not consume.

Thursday October 29, 2009, 9:22 am
Be Careful!!! As anyone who has seen Zombieland knows, madcow leads to madhuman which leads to ZOMBIES!!!!

Friday October 30, 2009, 9:45 am
It's not just England or SA countries, it's everywhere and going to get worse. We are relying on the government to let us know and they are not. Maybe the CDC can help. Please read up on "mad cow disease" get informed then make up your own mind. Please know that I am the farthest away from Vegin. I have always been a "meat and Potatos" person and it's time to look into this abomination.

Sunday November 1, 2009, 2:31 am
What... do they have MAD COW DISEASE.... this is an insanity and a madness allowing this.. obviously money is the name of the game here

Sunday November 1, 2009, 11:19 am
Ok - how long ago was the last reported case ?

Why is it always the very rere events that people fear while they hapilly accept the much more common risks ?

Sunday November 1, 2009, 1:30 pm
Carl

My guess would be, either today or yesterday, Have you not heard the "new rules" for when a farm has a case of suspected BSE -- "SHOOT, SHOVEL, and SHUT UP! Where have you been? Doing the "Mushroom thing" per chance!

cowboss

Sunday November 1, 2009, 3:32 pm
Carl....According to World Organization for Animal Health, in 2009, 18 occurrances of BSE have been confirmed.

The 'Shoot, shovel, and shut up' Cowboss is referring to was a solution publicly raised by Ralph Klein who was Premier of Alberta at the time.

Wednesday November 4, 2009, 5:46 am
Ok - hadn't had any arround here for years.
One wonders how many cases will occur spontaneously in cattle - The human Creutszfeld-Jacobs disease does occur spontaneously at a much higher rate, than caused by cattle affected by BSE.
Is it screened for in Australia ? If no, how do we then know it never occurs there ?