BSE (BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY)/ SCRAPIE AGENT
Here in the UK we have a major outbreak of BSE in cattle,
thought to be due to feeding cattle high protein supplements
made from scrapie-infected sheep carcasses. Many of us
remaining meat-eaters are becoming increasingly concerned
about the possibility of transmission of the scrapie/BSE agent
to humans via beef consumption.
In all the government platitudes about the negligible risks
involved with eating beef, I have not seen any information on
the likelihood of infectious agents surviving normal
cooking/microwaving/pressure cooking/irradiation. I am sure
that there is a considerable amount of data on the stability
of scrapie agent, as this (I remember) was used as evidence of
the "prion" nature of the agent.
Does anyone know of this data, as I have lost trace of it?
Does anyone have any additional info/opinions on stability of
scrapie agent to "cooking" treatments?
Should we all become vegetarians?
Concerned carnivore
Johnjoe McFadden
