Hi Stacey, If heat were all that happened in a compost pile, your comment would make sense, but...
There is a remarkable process in work in composting. A complex foodweb exists, especially in the cooler range of temperatures, that has a wide range of ability to 'bioremediate' toxins, pathogens and other evil stuff. Vermicomposting has now been accepted by the National Organic Program in the US as a suitable composting method, for example, and in vermicomposting there is no 'hot phase' needed for pathogen destruction (weed seeds are another story). Nonetheless, pathogens are destroyed, by fully microbiological processes. So, whatever the fate of prions in a cooking situation, their fate in a composting situation is much more complex, due to the complex foodweb gauntlet they must run in composting. As I said, I am not aware that this subject has been researched and published upon. But the knowledge that scrapie has been around for centuries, and that humans seem no madder than usual, would indicate that there is something happening in nature to prions that keeps them from simply 'waiting to pounce' upon the next unsuspecting victim. Also, as noted by another poster, it is possible to have various composts with different ingredients. Composted animal products, where there is some doubt, could always be spread in forest systems or other low risk environments, where little human or other animal contact may occur.... After all, as old Uncle Walt tells us, critters have been living and dying out there for lo, these many years.....and here we all still are, eh? Frank Teuton ----- Original Message ----- From: "Stacey Elin Rossi" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, September 13, 2002 3:53 AM Subject: Re: Deer and Elk in compost > To explain why I said "sure", if cooking at 400 degree > temperatures doesnt, then composting process at 140 or > wh atever the highest is, won't either. > > Stacey > > > > <<I'm sure the > > prions survive the composting process.>> > > > > > > Straight forward ideas don't survive the composting > > on this simple list- > > how can a grain of sand that was once a bit of sugar > > & a few nucleotides? > > > > > > geewiz we'll have to employ Dr Evermore's > > "Forevertron" to handle them! > > Don't drive by Baraboo WI with out an jolt, > > It's wake ja up! > > > > Whoops it' late. > > > > L*L > > Markess >
