Quote:WASHINGTON (AP) - After years of mad cow scares in Europe, Americans who eat beef are faced with the threat for the first time at their own dinner table.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman announced Tuesday federal scientists suspect a cow in Washington state had mad cow disease, an infectious brain-wasting illness. She and legislators from agricultural states immediately issued statements to reassure consumers the beef they eat is safe.

To be effective, those reassurances will have to overcome the fear mad cow disease, which can lead to a similar incurable disease in humans, has reached the United States for the first time. Food safety advocates warn consumers will be nervous because of the discovery and may avoid eating beef altogether.

"I think it will be harmful to the industry," said Carol Tucker Foreman, head of the Consumer Federation of America's Food Policy Institute.




"I hope it is not going to be a major problem for human health. But it is alarming that there is finally an animal, an animal that was discovered to have BSE."

That is bovine spongiform encephalopathy, the scientific name for mad cow disease.

A lone case of mad cow disease was discovered in Canada in May, which prompted countries worldwide immediately to block imports of Canadian beef. The result was devastating. Canadian officials estimate the country lost $1 million a day after the bans went into effect.

The Canadians' loss was a boon for U.S. cattle farmers. Sales of U.S. beef skyrocketed as countries that had relied on Canada for beef turned to the United States for their supply.


Demand is high at home, too, and the supply is small, because droughts in the U.S. West forced some ranchers to reduce their herds to survive the tough conditions.

Together, the factors have driven retail prices to record high levels. USDA Choice sirloin steak now sells for more than $6 US a pound, far more than last year's price of about $4 a pound. Ground beef sells for $2.04 a pound, compared with $1.84 last year.

Shoppers haven't been frightened away by the prices. Over the last decade, the average American has eaten at least 60 pounds of beef every year, the U.S. Agriculture Department said.

Beef sales remain strong partly because of the popularity of high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets for losing weight such as the Atkins diet.

U.S. ranchers want to hold the good times but they fear this incident could devastate their industry. They want to be sure consumers don't stop eating beef, especially since they are certain no contaminated meat went into the food supply.

Terry Stokes, chief executive of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, repeatedly stressed the food supply is safe when speaking during a conference call Tuesday.

"There is no risk to consumers based upon the product that came from this animal," he said.

"We expect that our consumers understand the U.S. government and beef industry have implemented the necessary steps to ensure the safety of the U.S. food supply and cattle system."