In the first month of testing under the new program, two inconclusive tests emerged, resulting in two negative results after confirm-atory testing at USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, IA. Test results are posted regularly on APHIS’s Web site, with the total number of tests performed as of July 11, 2004, at 15,773.
As part of the surveillance effort, APHIS is relying on state agriculture departments and state and federal veterinarians to work closely with cattle producers, slaughter facilities, renderers, and others to obtain samples from high-risk and normal cattle targeted in the program. APHIS is striving to ensure the testing efforts are as cost-neutral and convenient as possible to those involved so as many samples as possible can be obtained. USDA transferred $70 million from their Commodity Credit Corporation to fund the program, which will help defray costs incurred by those industries participating in the voluntary program.
An informal survey of renderers confirms the industry is eager to assist in the program and is an integral part of ensuring the nation’s beef supply is safe.
“We feel that it is extremely important that renderers play a proactive and main role in this testing,” stated Jim Andreoli Jr., Baker Commodities. “It will show consumers the important role renderers play in the safety of animal agriculture.”
Andreoli and several other California renderers, including Michael Koewler, Sacramento Rendering Company, have been diligently working with California Department of Food and Agriculture personnel in establishing testing procedures at the various plants in the state. Baker Commodities has incorporated a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point system into their testing program.
“We wanted to do it right the first time,” Andreoli said.
Koewler said Sacramento Rendering has been involved in the program since early March and is investing in a cold storage facility that will allow the renderer to increase the number of animals they test. Renderers across the country are holding tested carcasses in cold storage until results come back negative, which often limits the locations where testing can be performed. For example, Valley Proteins has five sites approved for testing, even though the company operates 14 plants, including their Carolina By-Products’ operations.
“We are holding carcasses until the tests come back negative,” explained Bert Readyhough, Valley Proteins. “That’s why we can only test at certain facilities because of the cold storage.”
National By-Products is not able to provide testing services at their Kansas facilities for the same reason.
“We feel it is wrong for anyone to be in the program if they are not going to hold the animals until the test results are confirmed,” commented Larry Angotti, National By-Products. “We also feel these animals should be refrigerated so that we don’t cause undo odor concerns in the communities where we operate.” The company operates 12 plants throughout the Midwest and has been participating in the BSE surveillance program for the past two years.
Sample collection varies from state-to-state and from plant-to-plant. Some facilities have an APHIS technician or veterinarian who collects and prepares the sample for shipment to one of the many laboratories certified by APHIS for testing, while other facilities use rendering personnel who have been trained by APHIS to do the collection and sample preparation. No testing is done at the rendering plants.
Ed Curlett, APHIS public affairs, said renderers are important to the success of the enhanced program and renderers agree.
“We’re taking this testing seriously and we want to participate,” noted Readyhough.
“National By-Products feels that it is our job to step up in situations like this to help the government,” remarked Angotti.
For the most part, renderers’ experience working with state and federal personnel on the program has been positive. Don Davis, Central Bi-Products, stated that, “So far, the agency contacts have been very good to work with once we were approved to be an official collection point.” Andreoli concurs: “It has been a team effort all the way through.”
Renderers and others who are interested in participating in the enhanced testing program should contact their state or local federal veterinarian. A listing of area veterinarian services is available at www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/area_offices.htm. APHIS has also established a toll-free number to report high-risk cattle in the United States at (866) 536-7593.
For more information on APHIS’s enhanced testing program, including testing results, log onto www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/bse_testing/index.html.
FSIS Issues Collection Protocol
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Notice 33-04, “Compliance and Investigations Division (CID) Protocol for Off-Site Collection of Brain Samples for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Testing,” which contains the protocol for CID inquiries related to sample collection for BSE testing of cattle that are “U.S. condemned” on ante-mortem inspection at federally-inspected establishments and moved to an off-site collection location for sampling.
The protocol provides the procedures for recording off-site sample collection locations into the planned compliance program. These procedures are to be used by inspection personnel to verify that ante-mortem condemned cattle arrive at collection locations and that APHIS is aware of the cattle’s arrival.
The CID regional manager will be notified by the district office of establishments that have an agreement with APHIS for off-site sample collection of brain samples.
To view the notice, visit the FSIS Web site at www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISNotices/33-04.pdf.
Newsline - August 2004 Render