Why aren't we worried about mad cow disease?

Why are we so sure our beef is safe?

I was going to say "because we trust our government" but......um....no. As BSE comes from the feeding of animal tissue to herbivores, I guess that grass fed and organic will be the safest bet.
Of course the feeding of discarded cattle brains to cows is now banned, but that never stopped Big Agro before.

We rear our own beef animal each year. All I can suggest is get to know a farmer to the point where you really trust him/her. If they eat their own beef it's a good sign too!

You can get food poisoning from anything. You're far more likely to get salmonella from poultry than mad cow disease, which is exceedingly rare. More food illnesses and deaths are caused by tainted produce than bad meat. Technically, vegetables are the biggest killer. Every month there's a new e.coli outbreak. We won't even get into the number of deaths caused by car accidents driving to the grocery store. How do we even know we'll make it to ACME in one piece?

If we worried all day about everything that could kill us, we'd never stop worrying and die at 19 years old of a massive peptic ulcer. Use common sense. Wash your produce, cook your meat appropriately and keep your kitchen clean. If you're washing and cooking your food, you should be okay.

[QUOTE=Gadsie;939403]Why are we so sure our beef is safe?[/QUOTE]The husband of a lady who used to work with my wife was a stock man. He says that here in the UK all cattle have to be tagged from birth nowadays and are regularly checked for any signs of illness. BSE would instantly be reported and dealt with. OTOH, if you're buying meat from places that do not have the same stringent controls......

i like to gamble

[QUOTE=bloodorchid;939504]i like to gamble[/QUOTE]

I don't, the steaks are too high. Zing!

niiiice one

When cattle are allowed to eat their natural food, they don't get mad cow disease. That is a disease of forcing cattle to eat industrial waste made from cattle brains and spinal columns. Cattle are meant to eat grass, not each other.

The same reason I'm afraid of having anvils fall from the sky.

[QUOTE=sbhikes;939616]When cattle are allowed to eat their natural food, they don't get mad cow disease. That is a disease of forcing cattle to eat industrial waste made from cattle brains and spinal columns. Cattle are meant to eat grass, not each other.[/QUOTE]

So, conclusion, don't eat meat anywhere else besides your home or absolutely trusted places :)