When discussing preventative measures for CJD, one has to look at two things: the measures countries take to prevent bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), the medical name for mad cow disease, and what individuals can do to lower their risk of eating infected beef.
At the National Level
Most countries have adopted measures to prevent BSE-infected tissue from entering the food supply. Great Britain and the European Union have some of the most stringent guidelines.
Unfortunately, the United States lags behind these countries in some important respects. The Department of Agriculture's ban on ruminant feed doesn't prohibit the use of organs that can harbor mad cow disease in products for pets or livestock other than ruminants.
However, after a case of mad cow disease was confirmed in Texas in 2005, more rigorous inspection practices were put in place.
At the Individual Level
To reduce your risk, you can:
- Be selective when eating abroad
- Choose the right cuts
- Go organic
However, realistically speaking, bovine tissue is in so many products that if the disease ever took hold, exposure would be nearly impossible to control. For a jaw-dropping look at this aspect of the problem, click here.
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