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Script: The BSE Risk Assessment |
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Intro:
Welcome to USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service podcast. Each episode
will bring you cutting edge news and information about how FSIS is working to ensure public
health protection through food safety. While we’re on the job, you can rest assured that
your meat, poultry, and processed egg products are safe, wholesome, properly labeled,
and packaged correctly. So turn up your volume and listen in.
Host:
Hello and welcome! This is Alexandra Tarrant with the Food Safety and Inspection Service.
Today we’ll explore the risk assessment of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, more commonly
referred to as BSE – or “mad cow disease.”
Joining me is Dr. Denise Eblen, a branch chief from the Office of Public Health Science,
Risk Assessment Division.
Before we get into the risk assessment project, however, would you tell us a little bit
about BSE?
Guest:
Sure. BSE emerged as a serious disease of cattle in the United Kingdom in the late 1980s.
By the early 1990s, there was mounting evidence that this cattle disease could possibly
be transmitted to humans via meat consumption.
Before this discovery, the international community was already highly concerned about
limiting the spread of this cattle epidemic beyond Europe. The threat of a form of human
illness linked to this cattle disease led to increased attention on this agent as a meat-borne
human pathogen.
Host:
So, one of the things USDA did was to commission a risk assessment of BSE. Tell me how
it got started.
Guest:
Well, in 1998, the USDA entered into a cooperative agreement with Harvard and Tuskegee
universities, and scientists from other academia, government and industry to conduct a
comprehensive investigation of the BSE risk in the United States. It required the summary
of several years of BSE research completed throughout the world. By 2001, the analysis
was ready for its initial publication.
Host:
What was the format of that risk assessment?
Guest:
Well, the Harvard-Tuskegee risk analysis used computer model simulations to look at the
potential ways BSE could spread if it were to enter the United States.
Host:
And, how was that risk assessment used by the government?
Guest:
That risk assessment was primarily designed to give federal agencies a scientific analysis
by which to consider how useful the preventative measures already in place in the United
States were.
Its primary conclusion was that the United States was fairly resistant to the establishment
of an epidemic of BSE like that experienced in the United Kingdom.
However, the study did identify additional actions that could be taken to further reduce
the risk of BSE, if reducing the risk was deemed necessary.
Host:
So, now we skip ahead to December 23, 2003, when USDA discovered the first U.S. BSE case
in Washington state. I’ve heard it referred to as “the cow that stole Christmas.” How
did that discovery change things?
Guest:
Well, to begin with, USDA and the FDA began contemplating measures to strengthen protections
against BSE in this country.
USDA again contracted with the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis to revise the risk assessment
model so that it reflected the most current scientific evidence concerning BSE.
The updated risk assessment analyzed the effects of various BSE risk intervention scenarios
aimed at live cattle prior to slaughter, as well as the processing of carcasses during
slaughter and the handling of cattle products following slaughter.
The assessment examined the effects of various intervention measures and also analyzed
recommendations made by an international expert BSE panel. That panel was convened to
review the actions taken by the United States in response to the discovery of BSE within
its borders.
Host:
What did this revision of the risk assessment achieve?
Guest:
Revision of the risk assessment really helped shore up the regulations that depended on
its conclusions. There were two major BSE rules and regulations informed by this risk
assessment:
First, there is a rule that prohibits the use of specified bovine materials for human
food and bans the slaughter of non-ambulatory disabled cattle – or downer animals
Second, there is a rule on what parts of cattle can be used for animal feed. This rule
prohibits including tissues with the highest risk for carrying the BSE agent in any animal
feed.
Host:
Who was responsible for implementing those rules?
Guest:
There are two agencies to consider here – FSIS and FDA.
Meat safety is regulated by FSIS. The revised risk assessment found the meat safety regulations
would reduce potential human exposure to BSE.
For example, removing tissues with the highest risk for carrying the BSE agent from animals
older than 30 months of age almost completely eliminates potential human exposure.
Nevertheless, this risk assessment emphasized, and I quote, “… that these are relative
reductions to what is already a small risk in absolute terms…” unquote.
Host:
You mentioned the FDA a few moments ago. How was it affected by the revised risk assessment?
Guest:
Animal feeds are regulated by FDA. The revised risk assessment examined the effect of
banning the use of ruminant – such as cattle, goat and sheep – blood in ruminant feed.
The study also looked at the requirement that establishments producing both ruminant-derived
material and non-ruminant materials use dedicated production lines.
The model predicted that neither of these actions would have much impact on the spread
of BSE, because blood contributes relatively little to the spread of BSE and cross-contamination
during production of animal feeds has a relatively minor effect.
Host:
It seems the BSE risk assessment was used to analyze several domestic issues. Has it been
used for anything else?
Guest:
Yes - it has been used to support the U.S. international application for our BSE status.
Based on this application, an international organization awarded a status to the United
States that improved our ability to ship beef to countries around the world.
In addition, the risk assessment has informed U.S. import regulations – particularly those
regulations pertaining to cattle imported from Canada.
Host:
So the BSE risk assessment model has been around for more than 10 years. How has it evolved?
Guest:
Well, 10 years is a long time. But the basic structure and application of the BSE risk
assessment hasn’t changed much.
Its structure is a sophisticated computer program that models the U.S. cattle industry,
the slaughter industry and the animal feed industries.
Some information has been changed as new scientific evidence becomes available, but the
basic program remains the same. The risk assessment still provides scientifically-based
predictions about the occurrence of BSE among live cattle, within potential human food
products and within potential animal feed products.
Host:
And it continues to be used today.
Guest:
That’s right. The BSE risk assessment continues to be used by USDA and FDA. It has evolved
with the available science and provides information to policy-makers within these agencies.
Host:
Denise, thanks for your time today. And thank you to our listeners. For more information
on the BSE risk assessment, please visit our Website,
www.fsis.usda.gov. We also
appreciate feedback from our audience, so please send an email to
podcast@fsis.usda.govv and let us know what you’d like to hear more about.
Outro:
Well, that’s all for this episode. We’d like your feedback on our podcast. Or if you
have ideas for future podcasts, send us an e-mail at
podcast@fsis.usda.gov. To learn more about food safety, try our web site at
www.fsis.usda.gov. Thanks for tuning
in.
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Last Modified: September 23, 2009 |
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