>> Wojtek > >> What exactly is recombinant bovine somatotrophin (BST) and what is it used >> for? -----Original Message----- From: Ken Hanly <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > It is a growth hormone. The hormone increases milk production in >cows. The other concern flows from bst's use to increase milk production which means cows get very hungry and need a higher protein food than is possible from a grass or grain diet. To meet this need cows are being fed rendered cow, sheep and other animals. Animals that are turned into animal feed are often sick animals. This is essentially the way that humans in the UK (it is theorised) were infected with "mad cow disease." In the UK, children and a farmer were infected, and especially the former is considered very very rare. The concern is that the disease vector (prions or whatever) have crossed the species barrier into humans. There have been incidents in which minks were infected with "mad cow disease" or scrapie after being fed with other infected mammals. Other trans-species infections have also occurred - so why not to cows and thence to humans who eat CNS (central nervous system) tissue ground up in their hamburgers or naturally occurring in other tissues or infected during slaughter or through the ingestion of gelatin (take a look at ingredients on the food you eat (marshmallows, e.g,) and the vitamins and pills you take + you'll be amazed where all gelatin turns up. If trans-species transmission occurs (and since it has a very long latency period a lot of transmission could occur before it shows up), we'll have a serious problem on our hands. The problem is of enough seriousness -- even if of low likelihood -- that basic precautions by the meat, dairy and food industries to prevent its occurrence would seem prudent. Ellen Ellen J. Dannin Professor of Law California Western School of Law 225 Cedar Street San Diego, CA 92101 [EMAIL PROTECTED] (619) 525-1449 fax: (619) 696-9999
