Mad Cow Disease As the Next Epidemic?

This is my first thread here. Exciting.

With the recent outcry in South Korea over its lifting the ban on U.S. beef imports, I was wondering if others were worried about this possible epidemic.

USDA is blocking its meat industry from examining all cows for Mad Cow Disease. This means that American and South Korean consumers are at danger with possibly contaminated beef on the market.

For consumers who go to organic grocery stores, this may not be a huge issue. However, middle-class and lower-class families who cannot access organic meat on a regular basis due to budget are at risk here.

And the news got me thinking, "What about the beef provided at public institutions? School cafeterias?"

It is hard to imagine an epidemic at work. I just cannot think that the government would let a problem of this magnitude just slide. Nevertheless, it is possible that the government values the profit gained from the meat industry more than public health.

Since the symptoms of Mad Cow Disease tend to take more than a decade to show up, I am being cautious for now.

What do you guys think?

Cases of Mad Cow Disease were found in Japan during the 90s. Japan recently imposed a ban on U.S. beef after confirming different cases of Mad Cow Disease. Japan only lifted the ban after agreeing to limit the age of the cattle to 20 months. Most cases of Mad Cow Disease have been found in cows older than 30 months. The few cases that occurred in Japan were caused by cows that were around 23 months old. Japan was able to negotiate this deal due to its international stature that almost equals the United States in many areas. However, South Korea gave in. The country agreed to import U.S. beef older than 30 months. Why? Because the current president is a moron. A shady authoritarian unfit for politics, his decision to lift the ban on U.S. beef has been fueled by monetary greed. He thought that he would be able to land a free trade agreement with the United States by treating the beef import as a favor. The people in South Korea are furious, calling for his impeachment. I don't want to get into that though. My point is that the age of the cattle comes into effect when examining this epidemic. It is impossible to know if the cow has the disease despite its age. However, the risk increases if the cow is older. This has been the issue in South Korea, and I just wanted to point that out. I just can't imagine the actual epidemic happening in the United States because, as many users have pointed out, its odds are low. However, I don't think a more strict test on detecting signs of the disease in the meat industry would hurt. It would cost a lot of money, but it ensures everyone that the meat they're eating is safe.

Hehehe ^. Because it costs too much money for the USDA to test all cows. And there is a cover-up by politicians who get paid to stay quiet. Furthermore, the federal regulators in charge of the industry were appointed to their high positions by influential government officials. It's a symbiotic relationship that fuels both parties based on money. In short, the meat industry plagued by deregulation and the government that covers it up need a strict ass-kicking.