FOOD SAFETY: UK FOOD WATCHDOG INVESTIGATES BSE CHECKS FAILURE

摘要

The British food safety watchdog launched an investigation on June 4 into the "serious failure" of BSE checks which allowed some 200 at-risk cattle to enter the food chain. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said any risk to public health was minimal because specified risk material (SRM) controls would have removed at least 99% of any infected material. But FSA Chairman Sir John Krebs said any apparent failure was unacceptable. "The risk is minimal because clinical BSE has not been seen in UK cattle under 30 months since 1996 and SRM controls have been applied. However, we need to be confident that all measures are property enforced-both food safety and surveillance-if BSE risks are to be effectively managed", he said. The FSA said it will publish itsreport on the investigation.