BSE in France: Infected beef in the food chain?

A new look at the data on the incidence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in France suggests that infected animals have entered the human food chain. At least 1,200 French cattle are likely to have been infected since mid-1987, so at least 49 infected animals have probably been slaughtered for human consumption during 2000. The risk of BSE entering the food chain has been markedly reduced from British beef now that cattle slaughtered for consumption are restricted to those under 30 months old (when the animals are least likely to be infected), but more late-stage infected animals are likely to have been slaughtered for meat this year in France, where no age restriction for slaughter has been in force. Elsewhere in this issue, Sir John Krebs, chairman of the UK's Food Standards Agency, comments on the implications of this work.

Likely size of the French BSE epidemic
CHRISTL A. DONNELLY
Epidemiological analysis helps in evaluating the potential risks of eating French beef.
Nature 408, 787-788 (14 December 2000)
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Beefing about the risks posed by the French BSE epidemic
JOHN KREBS
Nature 408, 767 (14 December 2000)
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lifelines : Counting les vaches folles
Steak tartare in Paris may now carry a greater BSE risk than roast beef in London. (14 December 2000)

14 December 2000 table of contents