BSE UpdateBSE UpdateMeat Industry PerspectiveMeat Industry Perspective

Randall Huffman, Ph.D.Randall Huffman, Ph.D.V.P. Scientific AffairsV.P. Scientific Affairs

American Meat Institute FoundationAmerican Meat Institute Foundation

Tuesday, December 23Tuesday, December 23

USDA AnnouncementUSDA Announcement

OverviewOverview

BSE and how it spreadsBSE and how it spreads

Control measures for BSEControl measures for BSE

Safety of North American Safety of North American beefbeef

What is BSE?What is BSE?Bovine Spongiform EncephalopathyBovine Spongiform Encephalopathy

Family of Transmissible Family of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE) Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE) diseasesdiseases

Fatal neurological disease of Fatal neurological disease of cattlecattle

Believed to be caused by Believed to be caused by misshapen prionsmisshapen prions

BSE first identified in 1986 in BSE first identified in 1986 in EnglandEngland

Linked to variant CJD in humans Linked to variant CJD in humans in 1996in 1996

The Global Spread of The Global Spread of BSEBSE

19861989

1991

1994

1997

1997 2000

2000

2000

1990

2001

2001

2002

2001

2001

2001

Israel2002

Japan2001

CanadaUSA2003

Variant Creutzfeld-Jakob(vCJD) first described

Epidemic Peak

Feed ban implemented

First BSE case confirmed by histopathology

Lag time for initial feed ban effect

Compliance challengesand

Incubation variability

Silent phase

Investigation and

Analysis

Lessons from the UK BSE epidemic curve

BSE

Year of onset

vCJD

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

Worldwide Cases of BSE and vCJDWorldwide Cases of BSE and vCJD

Scientific Principles of Scientific Principles of BSE PreventionBSE PreventionCattle

Feed

Cattle

Beef Processing

Consumer

Block recycling of rendered ruminant proteins into cattle feed

Exclude affected tissues and minimizecross- contamination

Control Measures for BSEControl Measures for BSEControl Measures for BSE

USDA BSE FirewallsUSDA BSE FirewallsBefore December 2003Before December 2003

Ban on imports from countries Ban on imports from countries that have had a case of BSEthat have had a case of BSE

Surveillance testing of high Surveillance testing of high risk cattlerisk cattle

FDA feed ban on feeding FDA feed ban on feeding mammalian proteins to cattle mammalian proteins to cattle

Strengthened USDA BSE RegulationsStrengthened USDA BSE Regulations(Implemented on January 12, 2004)(Implemented on January 12, 2004)

Ban nonBan non--ambulatory cattleambulatory cattle

Ban Ban SRM’sSRM’s from cattle over 30 monthsfrom cattle over 30 months

Ban small intestine and tonsil from all Ban small intestine and tonsil from all cattlecattle

Ban airBan air--injected stunninginjected stunning

Test and hold policy required for all Test and hold policy required for all cattle tested for BSEcattle tested for BSE

Additional control on Advanced Meat Additional control on Advanced Meat recoveryrecovery

BSE Precautionary ProceduresBSE Precautionary Procedures

Pre Harvest

Pre Slaughter

Beef Slaughter

Carcass Chilling

Carcass Disassembly

Rendering

FDA Ruminant Feed Ban

Feed Affidavit

Feedlot Review

Downer purchase policy

Ante-mortem inspection

Non-ambulatory policy

No air injection stunning

Dentition

Age Segregation [30 mo. of age and older]

SRM control program –tonsils, brain, spinal cord, skull and Ileum removal

Carcass Segregation

[30 mo. of age and older]

Carcass Segregation [30 Months of Age and Older]

SRM Control Program

Vertebral Column Removal

AMR Control Program

Feed prohibition

Labeling

Segregation of edible and inedible

Rendered sales designation

Rail car clean-out procedure

Live Cattle ReceivingLive Cattle ReceivingLive Animal

Receiving Program

Non-Ambulatory [USDA Condemned]

Rejected to Off-Site Disposal

CNS Suspect USDA Condemned

disposed of by incineration or Landfill

Ambulatory and USDA

Ante-Mortem Passed

Dead-On-Arrival [From Non-Ante-

Mortem Passed Stock] Rejected to Off-Site

Disposal

Ante-Mortem Rejected [USDA Condemned]

Off-Site Disposal

Marking for Removal of SRM’s

Marking for Marking for Removal of Removal of SRM’sSRM’s

Age Segregation & ‘Mature’ Age Segregation & ‘Mature’ Carcass IdentificationCarcass Identification

SRM Removal SRM Removal -- SlaughterSlaughter

Cattle 30 Months of Age and OlderCattle 30 Months of Age and Older

Spinal Cord Spinal Cord –– Inedible RenderingInedible Rendering

Brain Brain –– Inedible RenderingInedible Rendering

Skull Skull –– Inedible RenderingInedible Rendering

Eyes Eyes –– Inedible RenderingInedible Rendering

All Carcasses Regardless of AgeAll Carcasses Regardless of Age

Tonsils Tonsils –– Inedible RenderingInedible Rendering

Distal Ileum Distal Ileum –– Inedible RenderingInedible Rendering

SRM Removal and Control SRM Removal and Control –– Carcass DisassemblyCarcass Disassembly

Vertebral Column [DRG] is removed from Carcasses Vertebral Column [DRG] is removed from Carcasses 30 months of age and older and sent to inedible 30 months of age and older and sent to inedible rendering.rendering.

Removal of Vertebral Column [DRG]

Washing / Sanitizing of Affected Equipment after >30 month old.

Current Science on Current Science on Safety of Beef MuscleSafety of Beef Muscle

Beef SafetyBeef Safety

Beef is safe, even from countries Beef is safe, even from countries with many cases of BSE in cattle with many cases of BSE in cattle herdherd

Specific tissues (SRM) are the only Specific tissues (SRM) are the only source of potential contamination.source of potential contamination.

SRM are only contaminated if the SRM are only contaminated if the animal has the disease.animal has the disease.

Harvard Study clearly demonstrates Harvard Study clearly demonstrates that U.S. herd is very resistant to that U.S. herd is very resistant to disease disease

Tissue Infectivity by AgeTissue Infectivity by Age

Spinal CordDorsal Root Ganglia

Brain

Distal Ileum

Trigeminal gangliaTonsils

Retina3rd Eyelid

Distal Ileum

Tonsils

Over 30 Months of Age Under 30 Months of Age

USDA Specified Risk Material Ban USDA Specified Risk Material Ban Protects Beef SafetyProtects Beef Safety

No evidence to date of BSE No evidence to date of BSE agent in beef muscleagent in beef muscle

No BSE agent detected in bone No BSE agent detected in bone marrow, marrow, buffybuffy coat, serum, coat, serum, blood clot, lymph node, fetal blood clot, lymph node, fetal calf serum, spleen from calf serum, spleen from clinical BSE cases.clinical BSE cases.

Surveillance TestingSurveillance Testing

Requires a sample from the Requires a sample from the obexobex of the of the brain stembrain stem

Detectable with the laboratory assay Detectable with the laboratory assay only 3 only 3 –– 6 months prior to clinical 6 months prior to clinical signs of diseasesigns of disease

Bioassay remains the most sensitive test Bioassay remains the most sensitive test methodmethod

Histopathology is used in surveillance Histopathology is used in surveillance systems worldwide and the U.S.systems worldwide and the U.S.

Rapid screening methods are now approved Rapid screening methods are now approved and being used by USDAand being used by USDA

APHIS SurveillanceAPHIS Surveillance(one(one--time program for 12 time program for 12 ––18 months)18 months)

Total adult cattle population Total adult cattle population 45 45 millionmillion

At risk cattle populationAt risk cattle population ----446,000446,000

APHIS will sample as many of these from APHIS will sample as many of these from the at risk population as possiblethe at risk population as possible–– IF 201,000 sampled, 95% confidence that the IF 201,000 sampled, 95% confidence that the program will detect the disease if it exists program will detect the disease if it exists at 1case/10,000,000at 1case/10,000,000

–– IF 268,000 sampled, 99% confidence that the IF 268,000 sampled, 99% confidence that the program will detect the disease if it exists program will detect the disease if it exists at 1case/10,000,000at 1case/10,000,000

Additional 20,000 healthy adult cattle Additional 20,000 healthy adult cattle ill b l dill b l d

Science of BSE testingScience of BSE testingScience of BSE testing

Potential BSEExposure

Birth 6 12 24 30 36 44 50

Months of Age60

Clinical OnsetOf BSE

BSE test kits only detect disease about 6 months prior to clinical onset

80% harvested < 30 mos

Average incubation = 60 moYoungest UK case 2002 = 51 mo

Tracking youngest casesTracking youngest casesin UK epidemicin UK epidemic

4242

4040

0000

5656

4848

0101

5252

5151

0202

555541413636303030302626242427273333Second Second

YoungestYoungest

505039393434292930302020242424243030Age Age

YoungestYoungest

030399999898969694949292909088888686Year OnsetYear Onset

Increasing minimum age suggest smaller exposure

SummarySummary

USDA has had aggressive, USDA has had aggressive, scientifically sound BSE control scientifically sound BSE control measures in place for many years.measures in place for many years.USDA has strengthened regulations.USDA has strengthened regulations.Beef is safe.Beef is safe.Consumer confidence in the safety of Consumer confidence in the safety of beef remains high.beef remains high.