By host Tom Ashbrook:
The headline is perplexing. Creekstone Farms of Kansas wants to test all the beef it processes for mad cow disease. And the United States Department of Agriculture says no. To many Americans, that is perplexing.
Mad cow has left 150 humans in Europe with brain-wasting disease. Creekstone isn’t saying everyone has to test. But the beef industry in general does not want to touch universal testing. And the USDA is adamantly opposed. In fact, it’s about to cut back on mad cow testing. Now, Creekstone is suing to go the other way.
Hear a conversation with the head of Creekstone Farms about the mad cow disease testing and the USDA on why it says no.
Guests:
John Stewart, founder and CEO of Creekstone Farms Premium Beef, which has filed suit against the FDA to allow
the company to voluntarily test its cattle for Mad Cow Disease
Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation
Libby Quaid, Associated Press Food and Farm writer
Dr. Mel Kramer, president of EHA Consulting Group, and consultant to American beef companies
Ron DeHaven, Administrator for USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
Dr. Linda Detweiler, Assistant Director of the Center of Public and Corporate Veterinary Medicine at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine.
