Balance of probabilities that BSE-infected meat killed chef

21 August 1997

"Balance of probabilities" that BSE-infected meat killed chef

A CORONER said he was satisfied that “on the balance of probabilities” that a trainee chefs death from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) was linked to eating BSE-infected meat.

Matthew Parker, 19, of Clay Lane, Doncaster, died on March 23. He had a voracious appetite for sausages, beefburgers and pies.

Fred Curtin, deputy coroner for Doncaster, South Yorkshire, said more scientific evidence was needed to conclusively prove the link between the new variant CJD and BSE. He recorded a verdict of misadventure.

A pressure group comprising victims relatives called The Families Association launched a campaign to rename the strain “Human BSE”.

The Government came under renewed pressure to open a public inquiry into the risks to humans of BSE.