Bush Administration Protects Industry,
Not Animals or Consumers.

Ever since the confirmation of mad cow disease in the U.S. at the end of 2003, agribusiness leaders have worked closely with the Bush administration and the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to convince citizens that mad cow disease (BSE or bovine spongiform encephalopathy) does not pose a threat to humans or animals in this country.

During 2004, the USDA publicized that it would test more animals for mad cow disease, presumably with the goal of discovering the extent to which BSE exists in the U.S. But rather than acting to detect the disease and protect consumers, it now appears that USDA was engaged largely in a public relations scheme. USDA's disease surveillance effort has been grossly ineffectual, despite public assurances to the contrary. Increasingly, there are concerns that USDA officials may have played a role in hiding evidence about the prevalence of BSE in the U.S.

In April, 2005, USDA Secretary Johanns announced plans to weaken safeguards against BSE, including possibly allowing downed cows back into the human food supply. The Secretary exclaimed that BSE was not a problem in the U.S.. At the same time, USDA was producing ads to convince people that its surveillance program had successfully addressed the problem.

USDA has acted to protect the short term interests of the beef industry, to the detriment of both human and animal health. Not only is BSE far more prevalent in the U.S. than the USDA is willing to admit, but it is likely that we have different variants of BSE or BSE-like diseases that have yet to be recognized. Rather than avoiding the facts and placating the public with false assurances, it is time for the USDA to come clean.

Members of Congress Urge the USDA to Institute Permanent Downer Ban

Consumers Union calls on USDA to release data. Group raises serious concerns about credibility of government surveillance.