FARM SCENE: Small Meatpacker Pushes USDA to Permit ... Mad Cow Testing

[Snazzy]

FARM SCENE: Small Meatpacker Pushes USDA to Permit Comprehensive Mad Cow Testing
By Roxana Hegeman
Associated Press Writer

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) - While government regulators try to reassure Americans and international customers the U.S. meat supply is safe from mad cow disease, a fledgling Kansas meatpacker is willing to prove it.

Its survival might depend on it.

Creekstone Farms Premium Beef is one of the nation's smallest meatpacking companies. But it has set off a firestorm at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and within the cattle industry by seeking permission from regulators to privately test all the animals processed at its Arkansas City slaughterhouse for mad cow disease.

At a time when most of the world has banned imports of American beef after the discovery of a single case of mad cow disease in Washington state, Creekstone says it has assurances from Japanese customers they would accept its products - if every animal processed at the plant was tested for the brain-wasting disease.

If Creekstone receives permission from the Agriculture Department to begin such testing, and Japan begins importing Creekstone beef, the little company will have accomplished what nobody else could: reopen an Asian market to U.S. beef.

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http://info.mgnetwork.com/printthispage.cgi?url=http%3A...

[DeepModem Mom]

1. I think we can assume that American beef...

is not being adequately tested for mad cow -- that our government, under this administration, is protecting an industry it is supposed to regulate.

[Snazzy]

2. for sure

fox + hen-house.

What's a kick here is that you apparently can't get permission to do the right thing. Might set bad precedent.

[Mel]

3. this smells

I really do like hearing about a company 'Creekstone' that wants to do the right thing! Our corporatista loving infiltrated by corporate Bush* loving yes boys and girls government is not going to do the right thing, once again!

My take on this situation, USDA is going to continue to not allow the testing for mad cow disease meanwhile the small guys will go under and the corporatistas will gobble them up. Then after this happens they’ll start testing and the overseas market will open back up the small guys are gone/ bankrupt bought out. AND of course, the prices will go up!

This stinks and if I’m wrong good you can all give me hell about it but I don’t think so!

[denverbill]

4. This is fucking ridiculous.

How can the USDA prevent a company from doing it's own testing when no damn federal money or employees are even involved?

[burrowowl]

8. They can do it

but they can't say that they tested or the whole Industrial-Bovino-Agri-etc. complex will be upon their backs.

[DustMolecule]

5. I wish Creekstone much luck!

Hooray for trying to do the 'right thing'!

[DustMolecule]

6. KICK!

I'm kicking this, because I WANT BEEF FROM TESTED CATTLE!!!

And guys/companies like this are doing the right thing and NEED OUR SUPPORT! What that is, I'm not entirely sure, but we're a pretty smart bunch here...we can figure it out, can't we?

[w4rma]

7. The USDA is *preventing* them from testing for Mad Cow?

I'm *definitely* going to continue NOT eating beef. I love steak, too.

[sandnsea]

9. Quality black angus - buy some!!

http://www.creekstonefarmspremiumbeef.com /

Direct to Consumer Ordering

While we continue to expand the availability of our products at retail supermarkets and club stores, we are also offering a limited number of products for sale via the internet that can be delivered directly to your home or office.

Our fully cooked, frozen Angus Beef patties are currently available for home delivery. Our plans call for eventually expanding the list of available products to also include our premium Black Angus Beef steaks and roasts.

For product information, phone toll free 1-866-creekstone

To order product for express delivery, phone toll free 1-877-293-4641

[Snazzy]

11. Thanks for the link, bookmarked.

Man, that burger and fillet they have on there are making me drool.

No beef since December.

Thing is, although I bet the prime stuff here is pretty damn safe, you know it's not tested because of this USDA BS.

Which defeats the purpose of my no-beef pledge. Meantime, the prices at the grassfed/organic places are skyrocketing.

Think the least to do is a letter of encouragement.

[e-mail]

[mulethree]

10. Confused, why do they need permission to do it?

If the USDA continues it's own testing why should they care if
this company does it's own additional tests?

[DustMolecule]

12. That IS a good question....

and one that I would like to understand the answer to as well!

[treepig]

13. so we're going to allow corporations to police themselves now?

ok, why not - it worked so well for enron, worldcom, arthur anderson, etc etc we might as well just keep on keeping on

[this_side_up]

14. Because it would cost

the companies money to test;

if Creekstone finds positive cases, then
the govt is under the gun because of their claims
that the beef supply is safe.

If that shit hits the fan in addition to
BushCo's other lies and corruption....would that
be the end of the current form of government?
Especially since the BushCo deficit continues
to rise and who's got the money to pay it off?

Republicans created this entire can of worms.
It is looking like the worms will digest them.

[leesa]

15. Probably because it won't be reported as tested even though they

were doing it?. Does USDA control the testing materials? The FDA and USDA are about as corrupt as they come.

[Moderator]

16. locking

go to the updated story

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...