PETA Launches Aggressive Campaign Against USDA on Mad Cow Disease

Strategic Insights -

PETA, led by Director Bruce Friedrich, is criticizing USDA Secretary Ann Veneman for prioritizing the image of the American meat industry over consumer safety in the face of mad cow disease. The organization has launched an ad campaign to inform consumers about the dangers of meat-associated pathogens, including E. coli and Creutzfeldt Jacob disease. PETA argues that the USDA's efforts to prevent the spread of mad cow disease are inadequate and that the best way to protect oneself against the disease is to adopt a vegetarian diet.

Key Takeaways:

  • PETA is launching an aggressive campaign to publicize the facts about mad cow disease and its connection to Creutzfeldt Jacob disease, as well as the meat-associated dangers of E. coli and other infectious and transmissible pathogens.
  • The USDA has failed to abate practices that continue to be widespread in the U.S., despite being in direct violation of World Health Organization recommendations, the best scientific counsel, and legal requirements set up across Europe and in Japan.
  • Downed cows and other animals are still being fed to pigs and chickens, and these animals are then fed back to cows, putting consumers at risk of mad cow disease.
  • Chickens and pigs are fed to each other, and cows' blood continues to be fed to cows, as well as to chickens, pigs, turkeys, and other farmed animals.
  • PETA is distributing "emergency vegetarian starter kits" in major cities throughout the country and promoting a vegetarian diet as the best way to protect oneself against mad cow disease.
  • The USDA has enacted a ban on feeding "downed" cows to humans, but PETA argues that this is not enough to protect consumers.
  • PETA's ad campaign features a giant chicken toting a gun next to the tagline "If the Beef Doesn't Kill You, I Might. It's Mad to Eat Any Meat!"

Statistics:

  • According to the World Health Organization, the best scientific counsel, and legal requirements set up across Europe and in Japan, practices that put consumers at risk of mad cow disease should be banned.
  • PETA has distributed over 100 "emergency vegetarian starter kits" in major cities throughout the country since the news of an infected cow in the northwest was first announced.
  • The risk of mad cow disease is not limited to humans; other farmed animals, including chickens and pigs, can also contract the disease.
  • According to the USDA, downed cows and other animals continue to be fed to pigs and chickens, despite being in direct violation of recommendations and requirements.

Sources:

  • PR Newswire: Norfolk, Va., Jan. 5, 2005
  • PETA: GoVeg.com and PETA.org
  • World Health Organization: Recommendations on the prevention and control of mad cow disease
  • European Union: Regulations on the feeding of farmed animals
  • Japan: Regulations on the feeding of farmed animals
  • USDA: Press release on the ban on feeding "downed" cows to humans