What is BSE and how can I prevent exposure to it?
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), also called “mad cow disease” is a fatal neurological disease in cows though to be caused by consuming contaminated animal feed. Some countries have included in the feed given to cattle, ground up animal parts including brains and nervous systems of animals killed for food. Some of these animals had early stages BSE, and the infectious agent was passed on to the animals who consumed the feed. There is now evidence that some people who ate the meat from animals infected with BSE became infected themselves. Nearly 100 people have now died from what are now called “transmissible spongiform encephalopathies” (TSEs) believed to have been caused by eating BSE-contaminated beef. Although the only sure way to prevent TSE exposure is to avoid its source (contaminated beef), that does not mean you should become a vegetarian. For example, the United States is believed to be free of BSE-infected cattle, and New Zealand produces beef (and other animal meat) t
