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BSE and beef products: Some questions and answers
What is BSE?
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is a progressive, fatal, central nervous system disorder of cattle. Although the exact cause of BSE is unknown, it is associated with the presence of an abnormal protein called a prion. BSE is commonly called 'mad cow disease' and is part of the group of rare, fatal diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). TSEs have been found in humans, sheep, cows, mink, deer, cats and some zoo animals.
BSE was first observed in the UK in 1986 and has since been seen in smaller numbers, mostly in European countries. The epidemic of BSE peaked in the UK in 1992 and has since shown a steady decline. BSE is not a contagious disease, rather it is spread through the feeding of meat and bone meal derived from BSE-affected cattle. The feeding of meat and bone meal derived from ruminants (such as cattle, sheep and goats) to other ruminants is now banned in the UK and most parts of Europe. Australia also has a feed ban in place, even though Australia is BSE free.
For further information on BSE see the Animal Health Australia website http://www.animalhealthaustralia.com.au/aahc/index.cfm?06A8C531-AF9F-1690-A1E2-B4BC33FBD25A
Do we have BSE in Australia?
No. Australia is currently BSE free, as are a number of other countries around the world.
What is variant-CJD?
Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) is the human form of BSE, and was first described in 1996 in the United Kingdom. As at April 2007, 199 cases of vCJD have been notified world-wide. Almost all affected individuals had multiple-year exposures in the UK between 1980 and 1996, which was the height of the BSE epidemic in the UK.
For further information regarding vCJD and other human TSEs see the Department of Health and Ageing website .
What is the connection between BSE and vCJD?
There is strong evidence for a link between BSE in cattle and the development of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) in humans. It is now accepted that humans were exposed to the BSE agent by eating beef products containing specific carcass parts (such as brain and spinal cord) from BSE affected cattle.
What action has been taken by Australia to protect the safety of the Australian food supply?
Commonwealth agencies have been proactive in protecting the Australian food supply. Measures taken in this regard date back to 1996 and are outlined in the following link: History of Australia’s regulatory response to BSE as it relates to food safety .
Further information
Australian Department of Health and Aged Care
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/health-pubhlth-strateg-bse-index.htm
New Zealand Ministry of Health
UK Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
www.maff.gov.uk/animalh/bse/index.html
US Food and Drug Administration
The CJD Foundation
www.cjdfoundation.org
Copies of other FSANZ fact sheets can be obtained from the FSANZ web site at www.foodstandards.gov.au or www.foodstandards.govt.nz or from the Information Officer, Food Standards Australia New Zealand at: info@foodstandards.gov.au