ngiform Encephalopathy (BSE) or Mad Cow Disease was reported in November of 2000. Before that, German Agricultural Minister Karl-Heinz Funke was criticized for not taking the matter more seriously and was even accused of down playing the fact that BSE was even a threat to Germany. Since then, two more cases have been reported in Germany. Germany has also been suspected of a human equivalent disease known as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) (German Greens call…). With all this discussion about Mad Cow Disease, butchers in Germany have reported sales in beef has dropped 90%, although poultry and horse meat prices have now sky rocketed (Germany cabinet to study…).Italy has only reported two occurrences of the diseases, and both were imported from other countries. Italy for the most part isn’t too concerned with the matter as long as all the meat eaten by the citizens is from the country itself and not imported. Tumor specialist, Veronesi, states “the only action that Italy needs to make is to ban animal meal in feed for other animals. The country doesn’t want to run the risk of having a similar disease in other animals.” He also mentions that “the country is now testing every bovine animal at the age of two or older before the animal is slaughtered and put for consumer use (Italy’s health minister…).” France has reported a total of one hundred seventy-six cases. Ninety-six and 96 of those were just in the recent year (BSE and nvCJD cases…)! One of the measures France is partaking in is the banning of T-bone steaks. Prime Minister Lionel Jospin is also trying to stop the use of animal-based feeds, but for the process to fully be put in action across the country it will take 3-4 months. This is to purge the possibility of cross-contamination of feeds for cows from feeds for chickens, pork and fish (Georges-Picot). Britain has reported around 177,416 cases of the disease. Just...
