Bovine spongiform encephalopathy, otherwise known as Mad Cow Disease,
is
caused by proteins, called prions, that fold themselves into abnormal
shapes. Misshaped prions then cause healthy prions to fold. Together,
they amass into clumps that kill cells and literally leave holes in the
brain. A cow could have early forms of the disease and still show
healthy behavior. If the cow is not tested before slaughter, that
infected meat enters the food supply, thereby allowing the unhealthy
prions to take hold in others. Because of their unique structure, prions
are practically invulnerable. Prions are not adequately destroyed by
cooking, canning, freezing, usable doses of radiation, digestive
enzymes, or stomach acid. One study even raised the disturbing question
of whether even incineration at temperatures hot enough to melt lead
could guarantee the inactivation of prions. Acknowledging their relative
invulnerability and fact that prion diseases are always fatal, Dr.
Michael Gregor a world renowned expert on Mad Cow Disease, says, "We
cannot risk these pathogens getting any further into the food supply
then they may already have. We need to ban the feeding of all
slaughterhouse waste to livestock as recommended by the World Health
Organization back in
1996."
