News Release

U.S. Animal Health Association kills milk, beef testing resolutions -- again

PARA asks for explanation

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA -- At the annual meeting of the United States Animal Health association (USAHA), October 19 - 26, 2000, two resolutions passed by the Johne's Disease Committee on Monday, October 23, were rescinded at the USAHA general session on Thursday, October 26. PARA has asked the president of USAHA, Dr. Bob Hillman, to explain USAHA's actions in rescinding these resolutions.

Johne's Disease Committee tried to protect consumers

The two resolutions were among many resolutions passed by the Johne's Disease Committee of the U.S. Animal Health Association, at its annual meeting in Birmingham, Alabama. One called for testing of retail milk for live Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) organisms, and the second called for testing to determine what cooking conditions were necessary to assure complete killing of MAP in ground beef.

The resolutions were nearly identical to two resolutions passed by the Johne's Disease Committee last year -- and which were rescinded by the USAHA at last year's final meeting.

At the Johne's Disease Committee meeting, a lively discussion ensued in which some Committee members opined that we shouldn't offend the USAHA by sending the same resolutions as before, while others said that yes we should send the same resolutions up to the USAHA membership to "send them a message." The most forceful opposition to the milk testing resolution came from John Adams of the National Milk Producer's Federation -- a milk industry lobbyist organization. But to their credit the Committee eventually passed both resolutions.

Testing resolutions have history of rejection

In 1998, the beef testing resolution passed the Committee, but the milk testing resolution failed, thanks to persuasive arguments by Mr. Adams. The beef testing resolution was then rescinded by USAHA vote.

In 1999, both resolutions passed the Johne's Disease Committee, and both were rescinded by the USAHA. This year was a repeat of 1999.

When PARA learned that the resolutions had been rescinded, co-director Karen Meyer sent a letter to Dr. Bob R. Hillman, President of the U.S. Animal Health Association, asking for a written explanation of why the resolutions were rescinded. PARA's letter is referenced below.

References

Beef and milk testing resolutions

Letter from PARA to Dr. Hillman

Karen Meyer's speech before the 2000 Johne's Disease Committee meeting

Cheryl Miller's speech before the 2000 Johne's Disease Committee meeting

Karen Meyer's speech before the 1999 Johne's Disease Committee meeting

PARA's USAHA page

For further information contact

Paratuberculosis Awareness and Research Association, Inc.

1. To raise awareness of the zoonotic (disease-causing) potential of the bacterium, MAP, in the national community of sufferers of Crohn's disease, in medical, veterinary and food science research communities, in governmental agencies and in the public in general
2. To urge governmental agencies to directly address control and eventual eradication of MAP from the human environment, particularly from foods of animal origin
3. To urge governmental and medical research agencies to make funding available for research which will determine the role played by MAP in causing Crohn's disease