Readers respond to mad-cow report with questions, concerns

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— Amy Greenebaum, Kirkland

I live a mile from the slaughterhouse where the carcass of the mad-cow positive beef was processed. We are having beef for Christmas dinner. As long as I follow safe handling guidelines, I am not afraid of eating beef.

— Linda Hatfield-Southern, Chehalis

1. Was the meat held up before entering the processing plant while the initial testing was done? 2. Were the meat processor, slaughter houses and wholesale buyers of the meat notified that the meat came from downed cows? 3. Who in God's name would send meat from a downed cow to be processed for human consumption? I want the name of the farmer and meat processor, and who they distributed the meat to. 4. How often is meat from downed cows processed for human consumption? (How common is this?) 5. Which congressmen blocked passage this year of a law preventing distribution of "downed cow" meat? 6. Will the farmer and meat processor be prosecuted for willful, reckless endangerment of the public?

— Art Valla, Kenmore

I grew up in Britain until I moved here, and witnessed first-hand how the crisis unfolded there. Reading the articles in today's newspapers provoked a sense of deja vu.... I see all the same government and official platitudes about "how our supply is really safe" or "there's nothing to worry about - this is an isolated case..." Just one cow? The odds are slim. I'll continue to eat meat. Why? Well, I live in the Northwest: I have a higher chance of being killed in an earthquake than having my brain rotted out by a burger.

— John Rankin, Tacoma

Why do state and federal standards allow butchering and distribution of meat from sick animals? How can I assure that the meat I buy comes from packers/distributors/butchers who do not deal in meat from sick animals? What about the meat I am served at fast food chains?

— C McGregor, Burien

If there is no threat to public health after one isolated incident, then why were Canadian beef imports banned after just one isolated incident? And are they still banned because of it? Because the reaction seems to us to be different we are worried more about a cover-up to keep people from buying American beef rather than truthfulness.

— Scott Leach, Seattle

I plan to eat prime rib and steak same as I always have, several times a week. But I am going to find out where meat from sick (downer) cows is sold. Any place that sells sick cow meat will be totally off limits. I can do without cheap hamburgers.

— Nigel Featherston, Redmond

I will continue to eat beef, as the chances of humans contacting the disease from cattle is very, very low. We will have a delicious prime rib for Christmas dinner.

— Dan Coonrad, Pullman

I quit eating meat in 1978. I quit smoking in 1982. Good riddance to two bad habits. A proper vice is a good Northwest beer.

— Dana Meeks, Enumclaw

Sure, I'll still eat meat but I'll probably avoid hamburger and sausage for a while. That probably means fewer trips to the drive-thrus for dinner... well, with the exception of Krispy Kreme. I'm not aware of anything called "Mad Carb" disease, so donuts are still on my menu.

— Don Crouch, Kirkland

This case of an infected cow being sent off to slaughter has me extremely concerned. I did not realize, and basically did not think about, the USDA policy of allowing diseased animals to enter the human food chain. The animal couldn't walk - shouldn't that have been a signal? The supposedly comforting fact that they removed the brain and spinal cord does not comfort me one bit. I have considered the idea of going vegetarian before, and this may well be the story to send me over the that side.

— Stina Soderlind, Seattle

I traveled to England in the early '90s and experienced firsthand the effects of BSE on a country. This is going to be devastating to the U.S. beef industry and the U.S. economy. I have one question to ask Agricultural Secretary Ann Veneman. If the USDA is downplaying BSE and saying that there is little danger in consuming infected beef (providing brain, spinal cord and organs are not consumed), then why did the UK think it was serious enough to destroy 3.7 million animals?

— Martin Welsh, Bellevue

1. Once a cow is slaughtered how long does it take for its meat to get to the grocery store customer? 2. Does this particular farm in Mabton use other slaughterhouses or processing plants for other cows than the ones already reported for this particular cow? If so, which ones? 3. This report definitely affects whether I eat meat, especially hamburger.

— Suzanne Ryning, Seattle

I think it is about time that Congress outlawed the use of "downer" animal parts for human consumption. This outbreak has got my attention; my consumption of ground beef will stop as I cannot be sure as to the safety of the product as downer animal parts are used in ground beef. I feel that beef muscle tissue is safe and that from what I have read there is no problem there.

— James Cato, Selah

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