If a contaminant is present in the food sample, it will be revealed in the fluorescence, Lim explains. But these strategies and others under development are directed at common contaminants that enter food supply during harvesting or processing. And makers of animal feed are prohibited from including red meat products in animal feed meant for cattle and other cud-chewing animals. But the odds of getting it here are pretty low. This is not a statement justifying doing nothing, but we are as concerned about hysteria as we are about the disease itself.
People fear the unknown, and a lot of fear is generated by lack of knowledge.
Hartwig is professor in the college of veterinary medicine at Iowa State University in Ames. One important defense is to prohibit the use of any ruminant animal materials in feed for other ruminant animals. In 1997, the FDA adopted a control system, which applies science-based controls to the entire process of food production. Curtis Kastner, PhD, says all of the strategies to ensure food safety at any one point work best if the animal or foodstuff has been properly handled before reaching that point. For instance, food safety should begin on the farm with the live animal.