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SPECIAL
REPORT: Foot-and-Mouth Disease
If foot-and-mouth-disease
(also known as hoof-and-mouth) has you concerned about the safety
of your meat, you're not alone. The Centers for Disease Control
defines foot-and-mouth disease as a severe, highly contagious
viral disease affecting wild and domestic animals, which primarily
affects cattle and pigs, but can also occur in sheep, deer, and
other cloven-hoofed animals. Though humans aren't susceptible
to the disease, we can easily be carriers, which is why regulations
have been heightened for travelers returning from European countries
affected by the disease.
Dr. Lester
Crawford, DVM, PhD, a veterinarian and food safety specialist,
is also a member of FoodFit's Advisory Board. Dr. Crawford, the
Director of the Center for Food and Nutrition Policy at Georgetown
University, shared his perspective on the recent outbreaks of
foot-and-mouth disease:
"This
is a devastating disease of livestock, affecting cattle, sheep,
goats, pigs and other domestic animals as well…Fortunately, it
is not a public health threat. The US Department of Agriculture
successfully rid this country of foot-and-mouth disease in 1929
and we have been free of the disease ever since. It is likely
that this will continue to be the case, but the efforts of the
Agriculture Department should be uniformly supported, because
without continuing vigilance, foot-and-mouth could become a problem
here."
While the
United States government does its best to keep foot-and-mouth
disease from affecting our food supply, you can ensure that the
foods you cook at home are safe to eat. Use our Cook
it Safe Calculator to find out how long to cook different
animal products. To find out more about keeping your kitchen safe
and healthy, check out our food
safety section.
We've compiled
a list of links to help you navigate the sea of information on
current food safety issues. Various governmental agencies have
provided valuable information on mad cow disease as well as foot-and-mouth
disease. Check back with us for the latest look at developments
in food safety and nutrition.
Food and
Drug Administration
BSE: Background, Current Concerns and Recent Reports
http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/bse.html
United States
Department of Agriculture
News Release: Foot-and-Mouth Disease
http://www.usda.gov/news/releases/2001/03/0044.htm
Centers
for Disease Control
Background on Foot-and-Mouth Disease
http://www.cdc.gov/foot_mouth.htm
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For
more on Foot-and-Mouth Disease visit: