Farmed Animal Watch - October 3, 2001

Farmed Animal Watch
A Project of Animal Place

October 3, 2001 (To Search This Page Press Ctrl F)
Issue #33

CONTENTS

1. USDA Declares Emergency Regarding Mad Cow-like Disease 2. More Mad Cow Concerns in the U.S. 3. EU Proposes WTO-sanctioned Subsidies for Animal Welfare 4. Canadian Egg Industry Rejects "Humane" Egg Labeling 5. Pig Production Expanding out of the U.S. 6. Burger King to Offer Vegetarian Burger in U.S. 1. USDA DECLARES EMERGENCY REGARDING MAD COW-LIKE DISEASE The USDA has issued a declaration of emergency concerning chronic wasting disease (CWD), a disease similar to mad cow disease. CWD is a fatal, incurable disease that affects deer and elk. It is endemic in deer and elk in part of the western U.S. and has begun infecting captive elk herds. There are 2,300 farmed elk herds in the U.S., totaling 110,000 animals. The USDA is concerned about the potential contamination of slaughter facilities and the possible transfer of the disease to humans and farmed animals. It is also concerned that consumer fears could destroy the market for elk and deer products. Through the declaration, the USDA has authorized $2.6 million be used for surveillance, training and an indemnity program. It will purchase positive and exposed animals and reimburse ranchers from $1500 - $3000 per animal. Infected animals can only be diagnosed with a post-mortem brain tissue analysis. "Elk herd must be destroyed for testing," The Denver Post, Theo Stein, October 1, 2001. http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1002,53%7E164452,00.html "U.S. Government Issues 'Declaration of Emergency' for Diseases Similar to Mad Cow," NewsMax.com Wires, September 30, 2001. http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2001/9/30/102013.shtml "Mad cow-like disease spreads rapidly in wild deer," Environmental News Network, Oct.1 2001. http://www.enn.com/news/enn-stories/2001/10/10012001/wasting_45121.asp 2. MORE MAD COW CONCERNS IN THE U.S. The USDA is attempting to locate and quarantine 237 cattle imported from Japan prior to the finding of mad cow disease in that country last month. One case was confirmed and 3 more cows are reported to be showing symptoms of the disease there. The cattle were imported to the U.S. between 1990 and 1999, primarily for breeding purposes. Cattle and most beef products from Japan have been banned in the U.S. for over a year due to foot-and-mouth disease concerns. Last month all Japanese processed beef products were also banned. Japanese beef is popular in upscale restaurants. Scientists are concerned that pigs could be carriers of the mad cow disease agent even though they don't show clinical symptoms of the disease. Pigs who consume contaminated food may also expose other species to the disease by shedding the agent into the environment. Veterinarian Will Hueston, director of the Center for Animal Health and Food Safety at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, predicts 10-15 more countries succumbing to the disease in the next few years due to international trade. "U.S. tries to locate Japan cattle due to mad cow risk," Reuters, Randy Fabi, October 2, 2001. http://sg.news.yahoo.com/011001/3/1jkcf.html "BSE will Affect the Swine Industry," Swine Times, John Otte, October 1, 2001. http://www.directag.com/directag/news/article.jhtml?article_id=1004107 3. EU PROPOSES WTO-SANCTIONED SUBSIDIES FOR ANIMAL WELFARE The European Union (EU) put forth a proposal that government subsidies to promote animal welfare be exempt from World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. These subsidies would be classified as "green box" payments, and as such would be considered "non-trade distorting." Current green box provisions include ones intended to protect the environment or preserve the viability of rural areas. The EU made the proposals in September at the WTO Committee on Agriculture, held in Geneva. It had previously indicated that it would push for new international rules in this area. WTO member countries are currently identifying issues to be considered as priority. "EU Proposes WTO-Sanctioned Subsidies for Animal Welfare and New WTO Rules to Stop 'Pirating' of Food Names, American Meat Industry News, September 27, 2001. http://www.meatami.com/Template.cfm?Section=ThisWeek&NavMenuID=326&template=PressReleaseDisplay.cfm&PressReleaseID=687&News=Y "WTO and agriculture: EU wants WTO to tackle pirating names of quality food," Latest News, Europa Agriculture, September 25, 2001. http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/newsroom/en/134.htm 4. CANADIAN EGG INDUSTRY REJECTS "HUMANE" EGG LABELING The Canadian egg industry is advising egg farmers to boycott food-labeling programs promoted by animal welfare organizations. The Winnipeg Humane Society (WHS) initiated the first such program last June, and the B.C. SPCA and various provincial humane societies have expressed interest in doing the same. The programs call for significantly higher humane standards than those met by conventional production. An egg industry spokesperson criticized the labels as meaningless and called instead for government guidelines. There are only voluntary industry codes of practice in Canada, and no laws regarding the care of laying hens. Conventionally caged hens suffer bruising, feather loss and osteoporosis with a resultant severe risk of bone fractures. More than 90% of Canada's 22 million laying hens are kept in battery cages. The Chair of the WHS farm animal welfare committee, noting the outlawing of battery cages in Europe in 2012, stated: "It is clear to everyone except the egg industry that consumers care about animals and how their food is raised." In another attempt to thwart alternatives to battery eggs, the industry is suing an organic egg operator for not adhering to the B.C. Egg Marketing Board quota system. "Industry Rejects 'Humane' Egg Labels," The Vancouver Sun (Animal Net), Nicholas Read, October 1, 2001. http://www.plant.uoguelph.ca/safefood/archives/animalnet-archives.htm 5. PIG PRODUCTION EXPANDING OUT OF THE U.S. Environmentalists are meeting with success in their bid to keep pig production from expanding in the U.S. Texas is the one state considered for possible expansion, but only with significant difficulty due to permitting requirements. Industry giant Smithfield Foods is instead investigating expansion possibilities in Mexico, Canada, Brazil and Poland. It already has operations underway in Mexico, where, with a minimum wage of less than $1 an hour, there is often 1 worker for every 100 sows. Heat and disease, however, are proving a problem there. A spokesperson for Tyson Foods commented: "The U.S. sow herd is still too large, with production gains, to be a sustainable industry over a long time." Instead of expanding, Tyson is said to be reinvesting in its operations by replacing ventilation, flooring, crates and genetics. "Making moves in Mexico," Successful Farming, Betsy Freese, October 2001. http://www.agriculture.com/sfonline/sf/2001/October/0111pork_powerhouses.html "U.S. Pork Producer Hogtied in Polish Venture," The Washington Post, David B. Ottaway, July 3, 2000. http://www.awionline.org/farm/SmithfieldHogtiedinPoland.htm 6. BURGER KING TO OFFER VEGETARIAN BURGER IN U.S. In the hope it will "earn back some loyalty," Burger King Corporation has announced plans to offer a vegetarian burger through its U.S. outlets. A spokesperson said that customers had been requesting the product for some time, and that the company has been "very, very seriously" exploring a meat-free product for the past 3 months, both domestically and internationally. The ingredients have not yet been disclosed, and "supply-chain issues" are a concern. Burger King does not expect the product to be an overnight success. The company is believed to have been under pressure from its parent company, British-based Diageo PLC, to improve sales and earnings. "USA: Burger King to roll out veggie burger product across UK outlets," Just Food, October 2, 2001. http://www.just-food.com/news_detail.asp?art=42693&app=1