Afterthoughts about Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy and Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
2001
Thoughts on BSE and vCJD
Commentary
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Paul Brown
Primary Institution: National Institutes of Health
Conclusion
Beef products are generally safe due to strict regulations, but caution is advised in certain European countries.
Supporting Evidence
- Beef and beef products should no longer carry any risk due to regulations.
- Milk from infected cows has not transmitted disease to susceptible mice.
- Testing in the U.S. has not revealed any cases of BSE in over 12,000 cattle examined.
Takeaway
This commentary discusses the safety of beef and dairy products in relation to BSE and vCJD, reassuring that they are mostly safe but advising caution in some areas.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in public perception and reporting of BSE cases.
Limitations
The extent of BSE outbreaks in Europe is still not fully known, and there is a risk of human error in monitoring safety measures.
Statistical Information
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
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