Illinois FSA assures consumers that existing safeguards protect the food supply and the safety of consuming beef products

[April 26, 2012]  SPRINGFIELD -- The state executive director of the USDA Farm Service Agency in Illinois, Scherrie V. Giamanco, is sharing the following statement made by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack regarding a detection of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE in the United States:

"The beef and dairy in the American food supply is safe, and USDA remains confident in the health of U.S. cattle. The systems and safeguards in place to protect animal and human health worked as planned to identify this case quickly, and will ensure that it presents no risk to the food supply or to human health.

"USDA has no reason to believe that any other U.S. animals are currently affected, but we will remain vigilant and committed to the safeguards in place."

The following is a statement by USDA Chief Veterinary Officer John Clifford:

"As part of our targeted surveillance system, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the nation's fourth case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a dairy cow from central California. The carcass of the animal is being held under State authority at a rendering facility in California and will be destroyed. It was never presented for slaughter for human consumption, so at no time presented a risk to the food supply or human health. Additionally, milk does not transmit BSE.

"Evidence shows that our systems and safeguards to prevent BSE are working, as are similar actions taken by countries around the world. In 2011, there were only 29 worldwide cases of BSE, a dramatic decline and 99% reduction since the peak in 1992 of 37,311 cases. This is directly attributable to the impact and effectiveness of feed bans as a primary control measure for the disease.

"USDA remains confident in the health of the national herd and the safety of beef and dairy products. As the epidemiological investigation progresses, USDA will continue to communicate findings in a timely and transparent manner."

Visit www.usda.gov/BSE to learn more about BSE and to find updates as USDA continues to investigate this incident and share information as it becomes available.

Video of an interview on the BSE case with Clifford, USDA's chief veterinary officer, is available by clicking here.

Consumer telephone calls are to be directed to the FSIS Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline or 1-888-674-6854.

[Text from file received from USDA Farm Service Agency, Illinois]