June 13, 2008 at 06:35:27

Do South Korean Meat Protesters Know Something We Don't?

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By Martha Rosenberg (about the author) Page 2 of 2 page(s)

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WIVB TV in Buffalo, NY even reported that former Mayor Jimmy Griffin died of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease in May but the story was removed as quickly as it appeared with only headlines remaining on the Internet.

While public health officials are quick to rule CJD "sporadic," not meat-caused--even before brain biopsies or when it's in clusters (hello)--to forestall panic about food and hospital safety, Aretha Vinson presented a perfect storm for US trade officials:

Not only was she young at 22 and her family outspoken--"She has not traveled overseas. She's not even been to the Midwest," said her mother, adding she "wasn't the only one who ate this food,"--the news broke in the middle of the Bush/Lee summit.

Dr. Richard Raymond, USDA Undersecretary For Food Safety, himself was forced to assure the South Korean and American publics that it wasn't what everyone thought, citing the same we-don't-really-know-but-it-sounds-good "epidemiologic characteristics" and "preliminary results" other dissembling public health officials use, in a May 4 statement.

"An official release once all testing is completed and confirmed is expected soon," he added, no doubt hoping it comes after the South Koreans sign.

Nor does the provision in the beef agreement at the heart of the foment--that South Korea can't halt beef imports if mad cow breaks out in the US (unless the Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health downgrades the US safety rating)--instill much faith.

Do trade officials know something we don't know?

Especially since in May the Bush administration urged a federal appeals court to reverse a lower court ruling that allowed Arkansas City, KS-based Creekstone Farms Premium Beef to conduct advanced mad cow testing on its animals--presumably because it would raise consumer questions and make other packers look bad. (viz. BST-free milk labels)

"This is the government telling the consumers, 'You're not entitled to this information,'" protested Creekstone attorney Russell Frye, according to the AP, a charge also heard in March when USDA refused to name companies selling 143 million pounds of recalled Westland/Hallmark beef because the information was "proprietary."

Meat from 200,000 dairy cows was impounded followed a Humane Society of the United States undercover video depicting slaughter of downer cattle --a violation of US mad cow regulations.

The video may even have reached South Korea. END

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