Farm leader: Test confirms safety of beef

» June 24, 2005 «

Beef consumers should retain confidence in the safety of U.S. beef, according to the president of the California Farm Bureau Federation. CFBF President Bill Pauli said today's confirmation of a second U.S. case of the cattle disease bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) demonstrates that food-safety systems work efficiently.

"This animal never entered the food supply because of extra steps that the U.S. Department of Agriculture began taking in 2003," Pauli said. "The test results announced today show that the food-safety system is working as designed, and that consumers should remain assured that American beef is safe and wholesome."

Pauli noted that beef demand in the United States remained strong following the nation's only other BSE case, in December 2003.

"American consumers have shown that they understand U.S. beef is safe. We appreciate their support and confidence," he said.

The California Farm Bureau Federation, the state's largest farm organization, works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of its nearly 87,000 members.

Contact: Dave Kranz
Phone: 916/561-5550
news@cfbf.com

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