Blood & Manure Still Fed to U.S. Cattle for Two More Months

FDA says details on US mad cow blood ban weeks away
Reuters, 03.11.04

By Charles Abbott

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. government rule banning the use of animal
blood in cattle feed could take as long as two months until publication,
acting Food and Drug Administration commissioner Lester Crawford said on
Thursday.

FDA announced the ban, coupled with restrictions on making cosmetics and
dietary supplements using materials from cattle too sick or hurt to walk, on
Jan. 26. The measures were part of the government's response to the first
U.S. case of mad cow disease.

During testimony to the House of Representatives Appropriations subcommittee
on agriculture, Crawford said it may be as long as two months before the
publication of the so-called interim final rule, which will be in effect
until the FDA issues a final rule.

"I believe we're going to meet the two months," Crawford said. Firms are now
operating under FDA's old rules, which allow use of blood in cattle feed,
but "companies are accepting what we said and are moving toward it," he
added.

Crawford said "continued addition of blood to cattle feed ... is not a good
idea" because there "is a risk involved."

Under the FDA's restriction announced six weeks ago, animal blood and blood
products would be banned from feed for cattle and other ruminants.

FDA has also prohibited using materials from crippled or "downer" cattle in
food, dietary supplements and cosmetics. Brains, skulls, eyes and spinal
cords of cattle over the age of 30 months will be banned from FDA-regulated
food and cosmetics. All small intestine and tonsils from cattle of any age
will be prohibited.

Also to be banned, FDA said, was the use of poultry litter and leftover meat
from restaurants.