Mad cow tracking system

[GreenPartyVoter]

"If there's a bright side to the U.S. mad cow scare, it's that it could speed the nation's move to a centralized system that electronically tracks animals as they move from fields to feed lots to food stores.

Efforts to create a centralized database, which exist in some countries, have been slowed so far by disputes over who would maintain the database and who would bear its cost.

Such a database could let agricultural officials determine within hours where a sick animal came from and where it went - a crucial step in a disease outbreak or a terrorist assault on the food supply.

Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman said Tuesday that the government would speed development of the system, but offered no details."


http://apnews1.iwon.com/article/20031231/D7VP6JV00.html


Who wants to bet it will be a private company that gets to put that program together and oversee it?? *sigh*

[Kellanved]

1. why isn't there something like that in place already?

Why were the lessons from Europe not learned in time?
All sensible persons knew, that the first US Mad Cow was only a matter of time.

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. because to let it build to a crisis

would make it easier to set up the whole privatized system. Not to mention the fact that putting off such a system saves the big beef and CEOs $$$$.

Regulation doens't come cheap, and some folks care more about their wallets than the safety of their fellow citizens.

[lib3rty]

3. absurd waste of money

So, I hope everyone is aware of the nature of Mad Cow (that is be4 spouting off opinion of an uninformed nature). The disease is spread to cows through the consumption of nervous system tissue. There was a MASSIVE practice throughout the industrial meat industry that causes Mad Cow to spread. "Extra" parts from butchered animals would be mixed in with standard cow feed (the practice started with pigs) for protein. Very effective. Cows would be fed parts of other cows and the nutrients would cost next to nothing.
As Mad Cow began to break out across Europe, the practice was banned. If we make sure this is not done in the US there will be no Mad Cow problem. It is wrong to impose the cost of a cattle tracking system on the consumers of this country. Some of you may be brainwashed enough to actually think that, a regulation such as this, would be provided out of the pockets of the "cattle industry" and Big Cattle executives. Wake up. No one in "Big Cattle" will take the hit for this, the cost will be passed right on to the consumer. Now for those out there who truly have compassion for the poor and struggling in this country (and for anyone who buys American beef) you will fight this idea. Stopping the practice of feeding cows parts of other cows will stop Mad Cow dead in its tracks.
Every time a person suggests a huge government regulation such as this, please, think of a way to do it cheaper and more effectively; the costs come out of the pockets of hard working people.

[rustydog]

5. If you read up on medical journals and industry rags

you would see that it is very likely that our "food supply"
cows, pork, poultry is already contaminated beyond belief because the respective industries lobbied hard not to have to provide a safe food source ( it would cut into their profits!). Pork and poultry are fed feed with ground up cattle (i.e. downers!) they have mad-cow like diseases from this also. This was discussed on Bernie Ward KGO show hosted by Christine kraft last week.
I am not talking about the mom and pop farmer, i am talking about corporate farms and corporate giant meat processors who cut so close tot he spine you are probably eating beef spine whenever you buy hamburger.

It is a sad fact of life that no matter who pays for ensuring a safe food supply, the cost will be passed on to the taxpayer.

[Deja Q]

7. Profiteering is a wonderful thing...

Do it at whatever cost...

The beauty of it is, the corporate bastards will be dying with the rest of us. They can go vegetarian as well, but most of that is genetically modified anyway and we have yet to see the long term effects of that.

Oh well. May as well live it up while we can, and be sure to read "Final Exit" (3rd edition) when the sickness begins...

[twilight]

4. why don't they use Patriot I and Patriot II to track the cows!

It would be a far better use of a bureaucratic nightmare of these spying laws. I say, let them spy and track the damn cows!

Contact Bill Gates, maybe he can develop Venison a database that she can understand.

The reality of Mad Cow is just beginning! I wonder how much of this has made its way into the foodchain? Twenty nine countries have banned American beef and the * admin. is acting as if nothing is up at all! :wtf:



:dem: :kick:

[alfredo]

6. Kentucky has a tracking system for livestock.

Of course it was developed during a democratic administration, so it will not be considered by this misadministration.