Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Newsroom
historic archives | New FAO newsroom   Mad cow disease: FAO
recommends precautions  FAO believes that food safety is an
essential component of food security, and everyone has a right
to safe and nutritious food. FAO has therefore urged countries
around the world to be concerned about the risk of bovine
spongiform encephalopathy, or "mad cow" disease, and for those
countries most at risk to take action to protect the human
population. In response to growing concern, FAO addresses below
a series of questions on the subject and offers its
recommendations.  How serious is the threat of bovine spongiform
encephalopathy (BSE) or mad cow disease to countries outside
Europe?  FAO estimates that between 1986-96 up to today, meat
and bone meal (MBM) from Europe was exported to more than 100
countries. Around 100 countries imported live cattle. Some
countries also re-exported MBM to third countries.  All
countries which have imported cattle or meat and bon