fahrbot-bot writes:
Apparently the USDA is keen on protecting the profit margins of the Beef Industry.The Bush administration can prohibit meat packers from testing their animals for mad cow disease, a federal appeals court said Friday. ... Larger meat packers opposed such testing. If Creekstone Farms Premium Beef began advertising that its cows have all been tested, other companies fear they too will have to conduct the expensive tests.
(A slightly longer article can be found on Reuters: Court bars meatpacker tests for mad cow.)
While extra testing may be unnecessary, if Creekstone believes they can perform these extra tests, assume the increased liability for any testing failures and succeed in the market place, then why should the Government interfere?
I thought the "Free Market" was suppose to sort these things out. In addition, perhaps the market pressures of increased testing will drive the development of less expensive and more reliable testing, and 100% testing may provide assurances to foreign markets wishing to import U.S. beef. Then again, perhaps the Government doesn't actually want to test more than the current 1% of all cows...
