Ministry accused of 'playing down' BSE

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Ministry accused of 'playing down' BSE

BY MICHAEL HORNSBY

AGRICULTURE CORRESPONDENT

SIR Calman, the former Chief Medical Officer, has accused Ministry of

Agriculture officials of playing down evidence about the risk of " mad cow "

disease.

In a written statement to the BSE inquiry, Sir speaks of " differences of

opinion " between the Department of Health and the ministry, which he suggests

was too concerned with avoiding expense to the farming industry and putting out

reassuring messages to the public.

Sir , who is to appear before the inquiry in London on Monday, criticises

Meldrum, the former Chief Veterinary Officer, over his response to the

discovery, in October 1995, of four cases of failing to remove spinal cord

properly from cattle carcases. " These findings were referred to by him as

'disappointing', " Sir says. " In my opinion he understated the importance

of this information. "

The emergence of more evidence that banned offal might have got into animal feed

because of lax controls at slaughterhouses had caused him to be " extremely

concerned " .