과연 캐나다에선 몇개월의 육우를 도축하여 먹을까요?

작성일 2008.05.21 01:03

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한국에선 미국에서 광우병 전염 우려가 있는 30개월이상의 소고기 수입에

대한 논란으로 나라 전체가 어수선합니다.

광우병에 전염이 될 가능성이 많은 30개월이상의 소고기를 들여온다고 해서

많은 국민이 촛불시위를 하고, 그것을 바라보는 교민의 한사람으로서

착잡한 심정, 어떻게 표현해야 할까요?

한국정부가 국민들이 안심하고 소고기를 먹을 수 있도록 확고한 후속조치를

취해줬으면 하는 바램이 간절합니다.

그럼, 현재 캐나다에선 몇개월의 소를 도축해서 소고기를 먹을까요?

별안간 궁금해서 관련 문서를 웹사이트에서 찾아보기로 했습니다.

몇분만에 어렵지 않게 캐나다 정부의 홈페이지에서 해답을 찾았습니다.

출처 : http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/animal/bse-esb/safe-prot_e.html

Overview of Canada's BSE Safeguards

July 15, 2005

- 중간 생략 -

Slaughter Practices Reduce Food Safety Risks

In Canada , the majority of cattle are slaughtered between 18 and 22 months of age. Considering the long incubation period of BSE, these animals, if infected, would be considerably less likely to develop infective levels of the disease.

Even if infected animals were to survive long enough to develop into full-blown BSE cases, most of these animals would not leave their farms as they would be dead, down or displaying neurological signs. Effective June 29, 2005 , for humane reasons it is illegal to load and transport downer cattle in Canada. If some animals displaying neurological signs were presented for slaughter, they would be screened out during pre-slaughter inspection.

Removal of SRM - The Final Safeguard

As outlined above, Canada's BSE safeguards work together to systematically limit the risks associated with BSE. Import restrictions prevent additional infectivity from entering Canada, the feed ban continues to limit BSE spread and decrease the level of the disease present in Canada, and inspection at slaughter removes potentially affected animals from the food system.

After all these safeguards have reduced potential risk, Canada implements an additional measure to maintain food safety. Research has shown that BSE concentrates in certain parts of infected cattle. These tissues, known as specified risk material (SRM), are removed from all animals slaughtered for human consumption.

This measure is internationally recognized as the most effective way to protect human health from BSE. Removing SRM means that even if an infected animal enters the slaughter system the resulting meat and meat products do not contain those tissues known to contain BSE.

Looking Ahead

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency expects that it may find a small number of additional cases of BSE as Canada's surveillance program continues to test high-risk cattle from the national herd. However, because of the suite of measures already in place, these cases would not increase risks to food safety or animal health.

Canada is working toward the eradication of BSE from the national cattle herd. While Canada's existing feed ban will eventually accomplish this goal, enhancements are being proposed to accelerate this process. Canada has proposed to require the removal of SRM from all animal feeds. This action would minimize the risks associated with potential cross-contamination or on-farm misuse of feed, thereby further limiting BSE spread and increasing the speed with which BSE will be eliminated from Canada.

For further information on Canada's BSE safeguards, including a detailed technical report, please contact the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342.

1Correction - July 15, 2005: Number changed from 191 to 182.

위 글에 따르면, 캐나다에서는 18개월에서 22개월 사이의 육우를 도축하여 소고기를

캐나다 국민에게 공급하고 있군요. 미국은 어떤가 찾아봤는데 FDA 웹사이트에서는

대부분 30개월이전의 소를 도축하여 국민에게 공급한다고 되어있더군요.

미국 FDA 웹사이트에 있는 글

Commonly Asked Questions About BSE in Products Regulated by FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN)

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~comm/bsefaq.html

그렇다면 당연히 소고기를 수입하는 국가의 권리로서 한국도 더 염격하게

하지는 못할 망정 최소한 캐나다와 미국과 마찬가지로 같은 기준을 갖고

수입을 해야 하는데...

정말 국민들의 건강을 상업적인 이익때문에 정부가 맞바꿨다는 비난을