Beef Market Forecasts for 2004

quote:

Originally posted by oneiron339

If you want to check out some more liberal slant on this situation, check the website below. It seems the anti-capitalist, PETA-types, and environmental wackos may be behind alot of the scaremongering. Pretty interesting stuff.
http://www.consumerfreedom.com/headline_detail.cfm?HEADLINE_ID=2282

I'll repeat my post from the Hot Dogs forum:

Of course the Dept. of Ag. wants you to think that "beef is absolutely safe to eat". They are trying to avoid a panic and support the biggest section of American agriculture: beef producers. Do you believe everything the government tells you? I sure as hell don't.

And I'll agree with the Harvard people....yes, "the risk of Americans contracting mad cow disease is 'as close to zero as you can get'". It is totally impossible for humans to contract BCE (mad-cow disease). Humans get CJD....

Humans can contract BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) which is a variant of, and resembles, CJD. CJD is a disease, or more appropriately, a condition, similar to Sickle Cell anemia, and is inherited. BSE has been termed in the recent vernacular as "Mad Cow Disease," even though humans contract the other strain. Now, pass that burger Meowzart.

This thread is just so mmmoooooooooooooving. (Sorry.)

Now I am on the horns of a dilemma after that remark, it behooves me to say.

And that is how the cow ate the cabbage.

quote:

Originally posted by meowzart

quote:

Originally posted by oneiron339

If you want to check out some more liberal slant on this situation, check the website below. It seems the anti-capitalist, PETA-types, and environmental wackos may be behind alot of the scaremongering. Pretty interesting stuff.
http://www.consumerfreedom.com/headline_detail.cfm?HEADLINE_ID=2282

I'll repeat my post from the Hot Dogs forum:

Of course the Dept. of Ag. wants you to think that "beef is absolutely safe to eat". They are trying to avoid a panic and support the biggest section of American agriculture: beef producers. Do you believe everything the government tells you? I sure as hell don't.

And I'll agree with the Harvard people....yes, "the risk of Americans contracting mad cow disease is 'as close to zero as you can get'". It is totally impossible for humans to contract BCE (mad-cow disease). Humans get CJD....

Meowzart: You are correct in saying that humans do not get mad cow disease, but get CJD. Where you are incorrect is leading people to believe that they cannot contract CJD from cows that are infected with the disease.

The prions which are proteins and cannot be destroyed somehow mutate and that is where the problems exist. There is some type of conflict that occurs. When that happens, the disease will cross over. Prions are not understood very well by the medical community and they certainly do not understand the long term effects from this very serious problem. That is one of the reasons that people from Europe who have consumed beef and rejected as blood donors. The down side from this is if it is deemed serious enough, all beef consumers in the USA could potentially be rejected as a blood donor. That would cause immeasureable problems for major surgeries.

One thing that I do know is the total effects from the problem will not be know for some time. It devestated the beef market in Canada and it very will could in the USA and probably will. Cooking the beef will not remove the problem. That is something that the majority of the citizens in the USA do not know. This could be the beginning of something much more serious than AIDS. Please do not underestimate the seriousness of this problem. Prions are not well understood.

I am not a perveyor of ill will and and I do not want to overstate the problem but there is a problem. If I was lleechef, I would not buy beef in Alaska. Can you ascertain where the brain and brainstem products are used? Is it in the weiners, balogna or whatever.

Beef is my favorite protein and I love a great steak and brisket. This has caused me to re-evaluate my preferences.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

quote:

Originally posted by Mongo

These two cows were talking and one says "What do you think about this mad cow disease?"
The other cow replies "What do I care? Im a helicopter"

So the farmer goes to see a vet.

"I've got this cow at home that thinks it's a helicopter," says the farmer.

"A helicopter? Better bring it here so I can look at it," the vet replies.

"Are you kidding?" says the farmer. "I'm not licensed to fly a helicopter!"

So I guess it DOES spread...

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7
Meowzart: You are correct in saying that humans do not get mad cow disease, but get CJD. Where you are incorrect is leading people to believe that they cannot contract CJD from cows that are infected with the disease.

Let me clarify...I never said in my post that humans cannot contract CJD from cows infected with the disease. If I led anyone to believe that I am sorry...I did not mean to mislead. Humans can possibly contract CJD by eating meat from cows infected with BSE.

This bit of information is from National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and should help anyone confused by my post:
"What is Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease?
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare, degenerative, invariably fatal brain disorder. Typically, onset of symptoms occurs at about age 60.. There are three major categories of CJD: sporadic CJD, hereditary CJD, and acquired CJD. There is currently no single diagnostic test for CJD. The first concern is to rule out treatable forms of dementia such as encephalitis or chronic meningitis. The only way to confirm a diagnosis of CJD is by brain biopsy or autopsy. In a brain biopsy, a neurosurgeon removes a small piece of tissue from the patient's brain so that is can be examined by a neurologist. Because a correct diagnosis of CJD does not help the patient, a brain biopsy is discouraged unless it is need to rule out a treatable disorder. While CJD can be transmitted to other people, the risk of this happening is extremely small."

Bovine diseases cannot be contracted by humans. However, a similar disease to BSE, CJD, can be contracted by humans. From the FDA:
"BSE belongs to a group of progressive degenerative neurological diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). TSE diseases are always fatal. The TSE diseases include scrapie, which affects sheep and goats; transmissible mink encephalopathy; feline (cat) spongiform encephalopathy; and chronic wasting disease of deer and elk. There are six TSE diseases that affect people: kuru, classical Creutzfeldt- Jakob disease (CJD) and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome, fatal familial insomnia, and sporadic fatal insomnia. The human diseases are very rare; for example, classical CJD has been well studied and occurs sporadically worldwide at a rate of about one case per one million people." 5-10 percent of the cases are inherited. It is believed, but not yet proven, that CJD can be contracted from eating the contaminated beef of BSE cows, since the diseases are so similar. But I think, considering the number of people that have died in Britain because of CJD after the discovery of BSE there (~140 cases), none of this can be taken lightly. Especially when it comes to our nation's blood supply.

Despite the small percentage of contracting CJD, I don't think we should trivialize the importance of the discovery in the US, or belittle those who choose not to eat beef because of this.

The last I will say on the subject...That was way too much from me as it is!

quote:

Originally posted by Grampy

Now I am on the horns of a dilemma after that remark, it behooves me to say.

What an utterly disasterous dilemma. However, do you think we can milk this any further, Grampy ?

What an utterly disasterous dilemma. However, do you think we can milk this any further, Grampy ?


If you do, please send me the condensed version.

Oh, cud it out.

Okay. I surrender. I have taken a perfectly fine thread and hurled it into the pun gutter. With straight face, I will try to take this back on track. How will mad cow disease affect beef jerkey?

quote:

Originally posted by Grampy

Okay. I surrender. I have taken a perfectly fine thread and hurled it into the pun gutter. With straight face, I will try to take this back on track. How will mad cow disease affect beef jerkey?

Clearly, it will just dry the beef out. Sorry. Just the thought of this impact has upset all four of my stomachs. Again, sorry.

I'm out. Pardon the interruption. I'm moooooooving on. Seriously.

Is this an attempt at dry humor?

You're the regular Richard Prion of BSE, Grampy. The stand-up comic of downer cattle.

And I'll agree with the Harvard people....yes, "the risk of Americans contracting mad cow disease is 'as close to zero as you can get'". It is totally impossible for humans to contract BCE (mad-cow disease). Humans get CJD....
Meowzart: This is a serious issue.

Above is quoted by Meowzart: I do not agree with her opionion. Please understand that BCE and CJD are different however they crossover.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Have you ever read about the Southern Appalachian squirrel hunters who got a fatal dose of prion-type infection from eating squirrel brains? It's true -- I'm not making this up. Somebody, maybe the CDC, uncovered it while researching BES back at the beginning of the scare.

It will be easier for me to forgo squirrel brains than to forgo prime rib, I'm afraid.

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7

And I'll agree with the Harvard people....yes, "the risk of Americans contracting mad cow disease is 'as close to zero as you can get'". It is totally impossible for humans to contract BCE (mad-cow disease). Humans get CJD....


Meowzart: This is a serious issue.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

I couldn't agree with you more!!!! I wasn't trying to be jokey with this. Just pointing out that what some people take as gospel should be taken with a grain of salt--i.e. don't believe everything your read. That's all. Humans cannot contract a BOVINE disease. Hence what the Harvard experts said was true. However, humans CAN contract a variant of that disease--CJD. I was trying to point out that the Harvard experts were kind of glossing over the important thing--CJD--and that quotes in articles can be manipultated to hold up any argument....

We seemed to have quite a discussion last Summer when the topic was including 'Brains' on a menu of favorite Breakfast items. Someone had posted a comment about them not being legal for restaurant service in some states...or maybe a federal thing. Shortly after that I saw "Brain Sandwiches" being served at a food stand at the Blues Festival in Henderson KY (June 2003). I skipped them although I recall that being a Midwest delicacy many years ago.
With all the current uproar I don't think I will order that part of a cow for some time to come....if ever.
Paul, Have you eliminated ALL Beef from your diet as a precaution?
AL

80 percent of the implicated meat went to Oregon and Washington. Alaska, Montana, Hawaii, Idaho and Guam received limited supplies. How much are "limited supplies"? The East Coast Guys said that it was shipped mainly to "ethnic" grocery stores with MAYBE one or two major chain stores thrown in. What the heck does that mean???? Are we gonna play roulette with this issue??
I have not been in a grocery store here since this began (cuz we're stocked to the gills in food) but am going to swing by one of the chain stores this afternoon, just to see what the beef situation looks like.
But the SCARY part is that they get it from the FEED and don't tell me just ONE cow got infected!

Mr. Mayor and all:

How do you forecast CJD???

I cannot tell you what to do as the disease is yet unknown. For sure it is a problem.

Until more is know, I will assure you that I will avoid beef and probably other protein products.

I really ain't a vegan but until more is know. I will be one.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Sundancer, you can always eat crappie.

I hear that there is a TV show called Fear Factor, or some such, where the particpants eat everything. To think, cheeseburgers might be on their next episode.

I'll stick with buying beef from the local organic farms.

BUT, where is the USDA??? I remember getting BUSTED for just entering a meat processing facility in Boston.....I was only in the door but didn't have a hard hat on......was on my way to the office to stand and wait for my order when BOOM! the USDA guy was right behind me! Says, "John, you know I could shut you down for this."
Where was this guy when the "mad cow" went through the line??? Huh??? And why are they processing brains, spinal cords and God knows what else to put back into the feed??? This is unexcusable!

quote:

Originally posted by lleechef

BUT, where is the USDA??? I remember getting BUSTED for just entering a meat processing facility in Boston.....I was only in the door but didn't have a hard hat on......was on my way to the office to stand and wait for my order when BOOM! the USDA guy was right behind me! Says, "John, you know I could shut you down for this."
Where was this guy when the "mad cow" went through the line??? Huh??? And why are they processing brains, spinal cords and God knows what else to put back into the feed??? This is unexcusable!

Absolutely. And pardon Mr. Late 60s Paranoia, but imagine what they are not telling us.

Like the fact that since 1967, the U.S. has had an insufficient beef supply to match domestic demand thereby reverting to a covert plan for another, nearly infinite "meat source" -- which today, morbidly, comprises nearly 70-percent of all "beef" sales in the country.

"SOYLENT GREEN IS PEOPLE !!!!!!!!!!"

LOL!!!!

Thanks i95!!

Update:

I did my shopping for the New Year's Day meal tonight. I was curious to observe the shopping habits. There was a LOT of beef going out. Most of the good pork products were already bought up, though. I wasn't sure if that was because of the "beef scare" or if it was just because people tend to eat pork on the New Year. I concluded that the people shopping at that store didn't really care about Mad Cows.

Personally, though, I have been appalled at some of the things I've learned today:

1) Sick cattle are allowed to be processed into meat cuts for human consumption.

2) The practice of grinding up dead animals for feed extends to ALL meat animals; poultry, pork, and beef.

3) For those of you who think the government works for our best interest, both of the practices above were ALLOWED by regulators.

I'm disgusted by it all.

Yes, Bushie, you're right! Where is the f***ing USDA????!!!! I got BUSTED by not having a hard hat on, but the Mad Cow didn't get busted at all. What the hell is going on?

quote:

Originally posted by lleechef

Yes, Bushie, you're right! Where is the f***ing USDA????!!!! I got BUSTED by not having a hard hat on, but the Mad Cow didn't get busted at all. What the hell is going on?

You were an easier "target".

One of the big things that bothers me about all this is that they are saying that this tainted meat came from a "Downer" cow. One that was too sick to stand or walk !!!! They also said it came from a Holstein ??? I thought Holsteins were dairy cattle ???

Now I ask ... what the heck are they doing allowing them to slaughter a sick downer cow for human consumption !! I mean, if the cow is sick .... doesn't that tell us something ???