Governor accuses feds in mad cow problems

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Governor accuses feds in mad cow problems

 

A four-page letter details a lack of cooperation with the state and

urges future improvements in sharing information

 

03/09/04

 

MICHELLE COLE

 

The phone started ringing as soon as the nation's first case of mad cow

disease was announced, but Oregon agriculture officials had nothing to

say beyond what they'd seen on TV. In the confusing days that followed,

the state also couldn't assure Oregon consumers that the beef they'd

bought at the local grocery store was safe.

 

Gov. Ted Kulongoski wants to be sure state officials are never in that

position again.

 

In a letter sent to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman late last

week, the governor accuses the U.S. Department of Agriculture of

repeatedly failing to provide state officials with information crucial

to maintaining consumer confidence.

 

Eighty percent of the recalled meat linked to an infected Holstein in

Washington state was distributed through two Oregon-based processors,

Kulongoski wrote. Yet, he said, the USDA " made no effort to coordinate

with state agriculture officials responsible for the safety of food

processed and distributed in Oregon. "

 

The governor's four-page letter chronicles the problems Oregon officials

have had with their federal counterparts since first confronted with mad

cow disease.

 

Chuck Craig, deputy director of the state Department of Agriculture,

said Monday that the same problems could repeat if a second case of mad

cow were reported today.

 

Oregon's first complaint dates to Dec. 23, when state agriculture

officials heard about an infected Washington dairy cow from a wire

service reporter. They had previously received a message from the USDA

about an important news conference but had not been told the subject.

 

" About 2 p.m., we're all sitting around the television set watching this

on CNN, " Craig said. " We didn't know what it was about. "

 

Worried consumers, cattle ranchers and news reporters began calling the

state agriculture department after U.S. officials revealed the meat had

been handled by two Portland-area processors. Oregon agriculture

officials had no insight to offer. Like many people, they also couldn't

get through the USDA's jammed phone lines.

 

After the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced the recall

of 38,000 pounds of possibly tainted beef, Oregon officials asked for a

list of retailers that had sold the meat. The state wanted to do a

public awareness campaign, Craig said. But federal officials declined

because Oregon had never signed a Memorandum of Understanding, designed

to protect proprietary information about businesses involved in a recall.

 

" We couldn't give the most basic kind of information to the concerned

citizen that was calling in and wanting to know whether they should take

the meat back or destroy it. And that really bothered us, " Craig said.

" We know who the chains are but we still haven't received information

about the stores . . . and I think there are still many stores not

accounted for because they were not part of (grocery) chains. "

 

Steven Cohen, a spokesman for the Food Safety and Inspection Service,

said 21,000 of the 38,000 pounds of meat recalled has been returned.

 

" The recall was conducted out of an abundance of caution, not because we

had reason to believe that any of the meat in any way carried the

infected agent, " he said.

 

As of Monday, Oregon still had not signed a memorandum of understanding

with the federal government about meat recalls. State officials said it

remained under consideration, though they are still worried about how

much information they could make public if they sign.

 

Oregon agriculture officials also felt out-of-the-loop during the search

for other animals that came into the country from Canada with the

infected Holstein.

 

It took at least two weeks, Craig said, before Oregon officials learned

whether the search would extend to Oregon. Federal officials did

eventually visit at least three Oregon dairies and ranches before

calling off their search.

 

In his letter to Veneman, Kulongoski said he hopes to improve Oregon's

relationship with the USDA and the ability of each to " respond to

matters of this kind should the need arise again. "

 

On Monday Ed Lloyd, an Agriculture Department spokesman, said the agency

is reviewing Kulongoski's letter.

 

" We will respond to the governor, " he said.

 

Michelle Cole: 503-294-5143; michellecole

 

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/10788370169820.xml

 

 

 

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