January 9, 2004 PR Newswire

"While immediate steps have been taken to protect consumers from potential dangers associated with beef linked to diseased cows, relatively little has been done to allay fears about dairy products coming from the same cows," stated Gegare in his letter to Secretaries Veneman and Thompson.

"Taking immediate action will serve to contain public concerns and protect the dairy industry at large from the spread of consumer anxiety," Gegare added.

In Great Britain where more than 140 deaths were blamed on BSE related disease, the distribution of milk from any cows linked to the outbreak was banned.

The BSE outbreak is of particular concern for Teamster dairy workers in the Pacific Northwest. Westfarm Foods/Darigold, an employer of Teamster workers throughout the Western United States, has reported on its website that the farm where the BSE outbreak was first detected is one of the company's suppliers. Westfarm is currently under consumer scrutiny for locking out experienced dairy workers in Issaquah and Seattle, Washington.

"It is critical that the Federal government take responsible action before any dairy worker or consumer is affected by the disease," Gegare said.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States and Canada.

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters CONTACT: Garnet Zimmerman of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, +1-604-813-2870 URL: http://www.prnewswire.com