The Times
June
14, 2006
New warning on mutton as brain disease hits
sheep
By Valerie Elliott
Food experts say that BSE-style illness might affect humans, our
correspondent reports
MEAT-EATERS have been told that avoiding mutton, goat and some sausages is
the only way to reduce the risks from a new animal brain disease.
Britain’s food watchdog admitted yesterday that it could not rule out a risk
to human health from the brain disease atypical scrapie, which is similar to
BSE.
The advice from the Food Standards Agency raises the most serious concern
about the safety of the meat since the discovery of “mad cow” disease in
cattle. The new disease is similar to classic scrapie, a brain-wasting
disease that has been known in sheep for more than 100 years, but which has
never posed health concerns in human beings.
Mutton accounts for a quarter of sheep meat sold in Britain and is commonly
used in many meat pies, pasties, curries and some ready meals. The risk from
sausages comes from haggis and some upmarket brands that use casings made
from sheep’s intestines.
The agency said that it was updating guidance to shoppers because it did not
know whether atypical scrapie could affect health.
While it is not advising people to stop eating sheep or goat meat, or their
dairy products, it makes clear that consumers can reduce the risk of a new
disease.
However, shoppers will find it difficult to identify mutton products because
there is no requirement to label it, except for pre-packed sausages. There
is also no legal definition of what comprises mutton.
The agency is to ask the European Commission for the urgent introduction of
new labelling rules that would mean manufacturers would have to identify
products containing mutton.
Proposed new advice, to be discussed by the Food Standards Agency tomorrow,
says: “While the agency is not advising anyone to stop eating sheep or goat
meat or products, any possible risk could be reduced further by not eating
meat from older animals.”
It adds: “In addition, some sausages are contained in natural sheep casings
made from sheep intestines which are more likely to carry the disease agent
and therefore could present a greater risk.”
Atypical scrapie is now identified in the national flock — there could be as
many as 82,000 cases — and it has been found in sheep throughout Europe.
The move threatens to derail a new offensive from the Prince of Wales to
bring about a renaissance in mutton eating. Peter Morris, chief executive of
the National Sheep Association, said last night that the agency advice would
trigger a new food scare.
“It runs the risk of people not eating mutton and sends out negative
messages about mutton, when there is no proven risk.
“The Prince of Wales is such a keen supporter for the revival in mutton I am
sure he will be among the first to put out the message that people should
keep potential risks in proportion and keep eating mutton.”
Peter Ainsworth, the Conservative rural affairs spokesman, said: “We need to
be cautious about any threat to human health. But there is a real danger
that a message of this kind will create serious difficulties for sheep
farmers at a time when they least need further problems from government
agencies “It’s incredibly important that the FSA behaves in a measured and
appropriate manner.”
The 8,000 tonnes of British mutton eaten each year in Britain is worth about
£400 million a year.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2224875,00.html