More work by the Bush administration to protect Americans

The Bush administration said Tuesday it will fight to keep meatpackers from testing all their animals for mad cow disease.

The Agriculture Department tests fewer than 1 percent of slaughtered cows for the disease, which can be fatal to humans who eat tainted beef. A beef producer in the western state of Kansas, Creekstone Farms Premium Beef, wants to test all of its cows.

Thank goodness we’ve got government leaders who will allow the industry self-regulation they’ve long called suggested is best for us. Or, and this is just a theory I and other folks have (and hey, we might all just be deluded conspiracy theorists, so consider that before believing this suggestion), it might be government protecting big business to the detriment of citizens and small business alike.

A federal judge ruled in March that such tests must be allowed. The ruling was to take effect June 1, but the Agriculture Department said Tuesday it would appeal – effectively delaying the testing until the court challenge plays out.

. . .

The Agriculture Department argued that widespread testing could lead to a false positive that would harm the meat industry. U.S. District Judge James Robertson noted that Creekstone sought to use the same test the government relies on and said the government didn’t have the authority to restrict it.

I’m not saying I buy the Agriculture Department argument, but felt it should be pointed out for those that do believe it.

[tags]Bush administration opposed to comprehensive mad cow testing[/tags]