P733 CEEFAX 733 Fri 8 Apr 21:13/11 1/3 European Union health ministers have met to consider a German demand for a ban on exports of British beef. Two cows imported from Britain have contacted the cattle disease BSE, or "mad cow disease". The Ministry of Agriculture says it believes there is virtually no risk from eating beef. $hj ministry believes that BSE, which has killed over 120,000 animals, was caused bz feed with the remains of sheep infected with a similar disease. 5-,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,. Next Page Read Hear CmntyInfo ReligionP733 CEEFAX 733 Fri 8 apr 21:14/14 2/3 In 1988 it banned the feed and the rate of infection began to drop. But some cattle born long after the feed ban have now succumbed, raising fears that that BSE may bj passed from mother to calf or between unrelated animals. To protect human health, the nervous tissues of all adult cattle are discarded at slaughter as thr3j $5 parts are thought to harbour BSE. But some scientists belie6e thjrj could bj infection in the rest of the carcase, though re3rarchers have njvjr managed to find any. 5-m,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,. Next Page Read Hear CmntyInfo ReligionP733 CEEFAX 733 Fri 8 Apr 21:17/41 3/3 The nervous tissues in adult cattle are parts like brains and spinal chords. Nervous tissues from cal6es under six months old are not banned from entering the food chain as the Ministry believes that they are too young to bj infected. Germany may not secure an export ban but confidence in British beef is already damaged. One firm in Belgium is reported to have cancelled a big dial for hamburger beef. Environment Index is on page 730 Next Page Read Hear CmntyInfo Religion