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CNN Live At Daybreak
Preliminary Positive Test for Mad Cow in U.S.
Aired December 24, 2003 - 05:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Now to our top story, a preliminary positive test for mad cow here in the U.S. But what does that mean for your health and for the health of the beef industry?
We get some answers from CNN medical correspondent Christy Feig.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANN VENEMAN, AGRICULTURE SECRETARY: A single Holstein cow from Washington State has tested as presumptive positive for BSE, or what is widely known as mad cow disease.
CHRISTY FEIG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The announcement Tuesday evening that a cow from Washington State has what's believed to be the first case in the U.S. of mad cow disease is one of the greatest fears of the U.S. beef industry. That's because it could cost them billions in trade.
Already Japan, South Korea have announced they are banning U.S. beef imports for the time being. McDonald's, the largest fast food company in the world, has put out a statement saying none of their beef comes from this product, this chain of food.
Mad cow disease was first discovered in the United Kingdom in 1986. It was a big problem in the 1990s and to this day the United States does not take any beef imports from the more than 21 countries who have reported cattle with mad cow disease.
Even so, the beef industry still says their product is safe.
CHANDLER KEYS, NATIONAL CATTLEMAN'S BEEF ASSOCIATION: Beef is safe. We have firewalls in place. This cow was caught. The effective agents are not in the beef system.
FEIG: The USDA is expecting the final results on whether this cow does, indeed, have mad cow disease in the next three to five days. In the meantime, they'll be focusing their efforts on where any meat or tissue from this cow was sent. Once it's traced, it'll be recalled.
Christy Feig, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: The reaction to the news overseas was quick and painful for U.S. beef suppliers. Japan, the number one importer of U.S. beef, imposed an indefinite ban and plans to recall meat products already on store shelves. Joining Japan is South Korea, Australia and several other Asian nations. We'll talk more about the ban at the bottom of the hour. We'll talk live with CNN correspondent Sohn Jie- Ae in Seoul, South Korea. And in our next hour, medical contributor Dr. Sandra Fryhofer will be along to help us better understand mad cow disease and the potential dangers to consumers.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired December 24, 2003 - 05:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Now to our top story, a preliminary positive test for mad cow here in the U.S. But what does that mean for your health and for the health of the beef industry?
We get some answers from CNN medical correspondent Christy Feig.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANN VENEMAN, AGRICULTURE SECRETARY: A single Holstein cow from Washington State has tested as presumptive positive for BSE, or what is widely known as mad cow disease.
CHRISTY FEIG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The announcement Tuesday evening that a cow from Washington State has what's believed to be the first case in the U.S. of mad cow disease is one of the greatest fears of the U.S. beef industry. That's because it could cost them billions in trade.
Already Japan, South Korea have announced they are banning U.S. beef imports for the time being. McDonald's, the largest fast food company in the world, has put out a statement saying none of their beef comes from this product, this chain of food.
Mad cow disease was first discovered in the United Kingdom in 1986. It was a big problem in the 1990s and to this day the United States does not take any beef imports from the more than 21 countries who have reported cattle with mad cow disease.
Even so, the beef industry still says their product is safe.
CHANDLER KEYS, NATIONAL CATTLEMAN'S BEEF ASSOCIATION: Beef is safe. We have firewalls in place. This cow was caught. The effective agents are not in the beef system.
FEIG: The USDA is expecting the final results on whether this cow does, indeed, have mad cow disease in the next three to five days. In the meantime, they'll be focusing their efforts on where any meat or tissue from this cow was sent. Once it's traced, it'll be recalled.
Christy Feig, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: The reaction to the news overseas was quick and painful for U.S. beef suppliers. Japan, the number one importer of U.S. beef, imposed an indefinite ban and plans to recall meat products already on store shelves. Joining Japan is South Korea, Australia and several other Asian nations. We'll talk more about the ban at the bottom of the hour. We'll talk live with CNN correspondent Sohn Jie- Ae in Seoul, South Korea. And in our next hour, medical contributor Dr. Sandra Fryhofer will be along to help us better understand mad cow disease and the potential dangers to consumers.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
