Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy: The Past Present and Future of Mad Cow Disease in the United States

Abstract

In an attempt to provide an introductory, yet thorough, discussion of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy and its ramifications in the United States, this paper shall: discuss the history of and explain the disease known as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy; explain Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease; outline the history, responsibility and structure of the Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine; provide a comparative analysis of the steps that the United States and other countries have taken to minimize the threat of future outbreaks of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease; provide a brief overview of the Food and Drug Administration's rule prohibiting the use of animal proteins in ruminant feed; and finally discuss the adequacy of said rule as well as other possible steps the FDA and USDA could take to further minimize the threat of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease in the United States.