Greetings

We are not saying that all technology and ideas from richer countries are bad; much of it is clearly beneficial. What is needed is for decision makers in poorer countries to receive fuller, impartial advice.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

While Food Chain aims to provide useful information to small-scale food processors, we have in previous issues raised what is believed are important although possibly controversial concerns, regarding developing countries following trends in richer countries that may have negative social and economic impacts. Examples include a leader on the growth of the supermarket sector and its negative impact on smaller manufacturers and traders, and modern large-scale technologies designed to replace labour.

Many of our readers may have seen recent reports on the critical situation developing in the UK related to bovine spongiform encephalitis (BSE), also known as 'mad cow' disease. Recent research has suggested that this disease may be transmitted to humans in the form of Creutzfeldt Jacob disease (CJD); a dreadful degenerative illness that leads to death under the most terrible circumstances. The debate rages around the safety of beef consumption, with many politicians and representatives of the meat industry offering assurances that, given the control measures now in place in abattoirs, beef is safe. The public however, appears to view the matter differently. Almost all countries in Europe have banned the import of British beef and beef products; as have other countries including Singapore and Australia. It has been reported that 60 per cent of British consumers are rejecting beef and its products.

Various solutions are under consideration to remove this public health risk and restore consumer confidence in the industry. These range from the total slaughter of the UK's 11 million herd; to the culling of 4.5 million cattle which are over 30 months old. The economic cost, not only in terms of the value of the animals but also in dairy product manufacture, could be enormous.

What then is the cause of this tragic situation? In our view it goes back to the late 1980's when regulations regarding the treatment of animal residues to be used in feed were relaxed, and greed took over. High temperature treatment was abandoned in an effort to reduce cost; even cheaper meat for the consumer was the aim. Animal remains including feathers and excrement, brains and other nervous tissue particularly from sheep which had been suffering from scrapie, (a deadly disease previously found only in sheep) were mixed into animal feeds. The dreadful disease was transmitted to cattle and, as current research shows may now have been transmitted to humans, resulting in 12 deaths. As the incubation time of CJD is 10 to 15 years there is great uncertainty about the final impact of these follies.

It should be obvious that feeding back to other animals, particularly herbivores (non-meat-eating animals), the remains of other animals that have died through disease, mixed with other waste (eg. feathers and excrement) is beyond common sense and will always carry a risk of possible problems and disease transmission. Surely this must be even more true in the case of vegetarian animals such as cattle.

Although Food Chain is a small circulation journal it is read by many people in ministries and academic institutions who are in a position to advise and influence decision makers. We urge you to consider whether the rich countries do have all the answers. Indeed, does the West know best? We recommend that you make every effort to ensure that local policy makers are made aware of the disadvantages of simply importing ideas and technologies from developed countries, that may not only be totally inappropriate to local circumstances, but also have the capacity to damage the local environment, economy and culture.

We are not saying that all technology and ideas from richer countries are bad; much of it is clearly beneficial. What is needed is for decision makers in poorer countries to receive fuller, impartial advice.

While Food Chain is principally a practical journal for small food manufacturers; in future issues we hope to carry a number of articles by leading authorities on the whole issue of the West is not always best!