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Tell me. Don't you find it funny, that a single sick cow could bring about the collapse of an entire industry? That it could threaten the very infrastructure of a world wide system of agriculture? That a single cow could spread mass panic, fear, and paranoia? That it could kill you? I don't.

Recently, food, or rather its constituents have been receiving a great deal of attention in the media. Meat in particular, has been thrust into the spotlight and not at all for the reasons for which we would hope. Despite it's delicious nature, meat has a dark side. If incorrectly prepared, it can cause all sorts of horrid afflictions, exactly like those exhibited by those unfortunate victims in the recent maple leaf scandal. But today's presentation will not solely focus upon merely an individual manufacturer, but instead the overall errors of an entire industry.

One such error that has literally shaken the entire world's confidence in the production and manufacture of meat products has been the outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), more commonly known as Mad-Cow Disease (MCD).

THE DISEASE ITSELF

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) better known as Mad-Cow Disease is a fatal neurodegenerative disease found in cattle. It has a prolonged incubation period and primarily attacks the brain and spinal columns of the infected. Peak onset generally occurs in adult cattle ranging from four to five years and all breeds of cattle are susceptible to the disease. The disease itself is caused by cattle (typically herbivores) being fed the processed remains of other cattle; generally in the form of meat and bone meal (MBM), which serves as a catalyst for the infection. Another factor in the spread of the disease was the feeding of infected protein supplements to young calves. Primary symptoms include severe changes in attitude and behaviour, loss of coordination, loss of motor abilities, weight loss despite normal appetite, and decreases in milk production....