More mad cows

Canadians have identified another cow suspected to be infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease. Coincidently, the discovery came just 24 hours after the U.S. decided to re-open its borders to cattle imports from Canada, following a 19-month moratorium from a previous mad cow scare. Trade is expected to commence in March.

There is still a lot of misinformation about BSE, and the health threat it poses to people who eat red meat. This U.S. Food and Drug Administration fact sheet outlines many questions regarding BSE and most importantly, details where animal products can and can't be used since the first outbreak of BSE back in 1986 in Britain. The disease is carried in the brain, spinal column and small intestines of cows (all items typically removed from the animal immediately after slaughter), but is typically not found in cow muscle tissue -- a common misperception.

The origin of BSE came about in Britain when diseased meat was fed to other cows as food. (It's innocuously called "cattle protein.") Cows aren't carnivores, and they certainly aren't cannibals. In the push for bigger, fatter animals which in turn produces bigger profits, we've led our animals so far away from their nature that it's no wonder they've fallen sick. There are, however, more and more farmers turning their animals back to the pasture. Although grass-fed beef and other meat often costs more, the investment in our overall health -- body and earth -- is worth it.