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> Mad Cow Updates: 2004 Election, Fast Food and PETA's New Ads
Mad Cow Updates: 2004 Election, Fast Food and PETA's New Ads
Published on: January 3, 2004
The outbreak of mad cow disease in the United States - created (at this writing) by a single Holstein of probable Canadian origin who was infected with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), or Mad Cow Disease - has become one of the most dramatic political hot buttons.
A number of Democratic presidential candidates have used the first discovered occurrence of mad cow disease on US soil as a springboard from which to attack President George Bush's food safety policies. The argument is that if President Bush had not coddled the livestock industry, mad cow disease never would have occurred here in the US.
Ironically, the first nominating caucus in the Democratic race will be in just three weeks in Iowa - which also happens to be the nation's eighth largest cattle producing state. Several of the candidates reportedly intend to make meat safety a major focus of their speeches in the coming weeks.
The White House response? White House press secretary Scott McClellan said, "The American people recognize there is a lot of partisan posturing going on in the Democratic primary right now. The president, on the other hand, is acting to protect public health and acting to make sure our food supply is safe."
Among these actions: US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Ann Veneman announced that effective immediately, all sick or "downer" cattle will be banned from the human food chain. In addition, USDA is banning the use of small intestines and head and spinal tissue from older cattle for human consumption.
According to reports, USDA tested roughly 20,000 cattle this year and will test almost twice as many is 2004 - but that is a small percentage of the 25 million cattle slaughtered annually. In fact, one published report notes that while USDA tests cattle showing signs of neurological disease, it does not even test all of the estimated 195,000 "downer" cattle that arrive for slaughter too sick or injured to walk - which is one symptom of mad cow disease.
There is little doubt that the USDA will continue to come under scrutiny about its procedures and preventative procedures; question is whether or not Bush can distance himself. Not easy for a Texan with strong cattle ties.
Mad Cow Disease Updates from the fast fooderies:
The Fast food chains PR machines are at work. McDonald's, Burger King and Wendy's all say that hamburger sales have been steady since the announcement last week that the first case of Mad Cow Disease had been discovered on US soil. Even though the managers that we've spoken to, off the record, at all 3 say sales are down for their burgers and chicken is up.
Mad Cow Disease Updates from the advertising world:
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) reportedly plans an advertising campaign that will imply that chickens are as much at risk as cows for such diseases - and that people should stop eating chicken as well as meat.
The draft print ad features a chicken holding a machine gun, with a headline that reads: "If the cow doesn't get you, I might," or "If the beef doesn't kill you, I will." These billboards are expected to appear in Arkansas, California, Alabama and Georgia within the next 10 days to two weeks, with newspaper print ads also in the works.
The goal, according to PETA, is to get people to stop eating all animals - not just beef. "We're trying to explicitly point out to people that moving to other species of animals is not likely to protect you or your family," said Bruce Friedrich, a director of vegan outreach for PETA.
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