http://cbc.ca/cgi-bin/templates/view.cgi?/news/2001/01/22/madcow_010122

 

New concerns about mad cow disease in Canada
WebPosted Tue Jan 23 08:45:25 2001

TORONTO - The federal government is studying the possibility that mad cow disease could exist in beef byproducts that are used in vaccines and cosmetics.

Experts say hundreds of products contain ingredients made from bovine by-products, including some common childhood vaccines such as tetanus, polio and diphtheria.

Health Canada says it's conducting risk assessments on vaccines. It says there is no evidence the risk exists, but it also says it can't be ruled out.

Concern about anti-aging creams


Anti-aging cream

Cosmetics are also an area of concern – especially expensive anti-aging creams imported from Europe. Many contain lightly-processed bovine brain and nerve tissue.

European and American officials have asked manufacturers not to use ingredients from any country with a risk of mad cow infection.

Health Canada says it's considering import restrictions on any products that contain raw biological tissue.

Again, experts say the risk is extremely low. But they say until more is known about the disease, it's better to err on the side of caution.

A government inquiry in Britain concluded, "It seems to us undesirable that so little is known about products which offer a potential pathway infection."

At least 80 people in Britain and France have died from mad cow disease. Governments around the world have blocked the trade of infected animals and meat.

Written by CBC News Online staff

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