I have to say that in this particular cow that we’re dealing with, those parts of the cow were removed, and so we don’t think there’s any risk or very negligible risk to human health with this particular incident. Ann Veneman Read Quote
Now, the impact on export markets – we export about 10 percent of what we produce, so obviously that will probably have some impact on the market. At this point it’s too early to determine how much. Ann Veneman Read Quote
The demand for beef in Canada remains strong because I think people in America, in North America, know that we have a very strong food safety system and that our food is safe to eat. Ann Veneman Read Quote
I think it’s a little early to tell what the economic impact will be. This year our cattle prices have been particularly high. The demand for beef has remained strong in this country, even though there was the single find in Canada earlier this year. Ann Veneman Read Quote
I think it’s important that, as a matter of course, the brain and spinal column were removed from this cow, and that would be the material that would cause concern in terms of human health. And therefore we’re confident in the safety of the food supply. Ann Veneman Read Quote
But the fact of the matter is that all scientific evidence would show, based upon what we know about this disease, that muscle cuts – that is, the meat of the animal itself – should not cause any risk to human health. Ann Veneman Read Quote
The cows have ID numbers. And we should be able, throughout the investigation, which is ongoing as we speak, to be able to track that cow back to where it came from initially. Ann Veneman Read Quote
Actually, in this instance we do have probably a better tracking system than was the instance in Canada. Because this is a dairy cow, they’re all individually tagged. Ann Veneman Read Quote
This was a dairy cow, and dairy cows have IDs on them. The ID was traced back to the farm in Washington. It’s a dairy farm. And that farm now has been quarantined, and the owners have been very cooperative in doing that. Ann Veneman Read Quote
I also believe that it’s the right thing to do, to maintain strong consumer confidence in our food systems. And I believe that the consumer should have strong confidence in our food systems. Ann Veneman Read Quote
