Get Mad! Mad Cow Disease Discovered in California. The USDA Needs to Take Action.
Dear [Decision Maker],
We, the undersigned, are deeply concerned with the new cases of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), also known as Mad Cow Disease, discovered in Central California. It’s currently unclear whether these are isolated cases, but with over one million cows slaughtered annually, we believe the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) needs make the expansion of its current testing program a top priority.
Today, the USDA only requires testing on 40,000 cows per year. There are, however, clear and feasible steps that can be taken to exceed this number. By expanding their quota and allowing private companies to conduct their own beef testing, the USDA can impose extra monitoring measures to protect consumer health.
We appreciate you taking the time to hear our concerns and for taking action on this incredibly important issue.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
About This Petition:
The safety of U.S. beef and consumer health has been called in to question with the discovery of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in Central California. This news comes on the heels of the USDA’s proposal to reduce protections against cattle infected with BSE, or Mad Cow Disease, which the Organic Consumers Association has actively protested. Now, more than ever, the USDA needs to expand its testing program to protect against the spread of this disease.
The USDA should allow private companies to test their own beef. By doing so, we can enact extra monitoring measures that will protect consumer health. In addition, attention needs to be paid to the ruminant-to-ruminant food ban, which allows cow remains to be fed to other animals and visa versa. This practice, along with the use of warm cow’s blood to feed calves, results in the spread of mad cow disease. It’s time to take action; the USDA needs to increase its protections against this disease. Sign this petition if you support Organic Consumers Association's work to improve testing standards. The safety of US beef and consumer health depends on it!
People Who Have Signed
| susan b | 15 Jun 2013 | la mesa |
| Deborah R | 6 Jun 2013 | Denham Springs |
| C. Sheree S | 6 Jun 2013 | Denham Springs |
| Ashley M | 6 Jun 2013 | Corona |
| Ryan B | 3 Jun 2013 | Tucson |
| andrea b | 29 May 2013 | foxboro |
| Julie W | 29 May 2013 | Rochester |
| Stephanie P | 27 May 2013 | Niederwangen |
| Diane B | 25 May 2013 | Plainfield |
| John S | 25 May 2013 | New Albany |
