Pets before people in anti-BSE campaign
08 October 1998
‘Pets before people in anti-BSE campaign’
MEASURES to stop the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) among pets were introduced months before safeguards were introduced to halt BSEs dispersal in human food consumption, claim petfood manufacturers.
The manufacturers told the BSE inquiry in London that they had collectively adopted a voluntary ban on the use of brain, spinal cord and other potentially dangerous cattle offals in June 1989, after taking scientific advice.
A similar ban covering food intended for human consumption was not introduced by the Government until five months later.
Representatives of supermarket chains told the inquiry that they had taken steps of their own to protect the public against BSE, but had also relied on Government assurances that everything was being done to keep dangerous cattle parts out of the human food chain.
The British Retail Consortium told the BSE inquiry that supermarkets and butchers lost about £26 million when they removed beef products from their shelves.
Sainsbury said it lost £2m on fresh beef alone after being left with two-and-a-half weeks stock in its supply chain and virtually no customers.
The Times 08/10/98 page 6
- The Guardian 08/10/98 page 11