Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Q1: Are Canadians at risk of contracting variant Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease (variant CJD)?

• Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) is a disease in cattle that has been implicated in the development of the human version of mad cow disease, called variant Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease (vCJD).
• Variant CJD is a disease caused by an abnormal form of a protein known as a prion that collects in the central nervous tissue and causes the nerve cells to die.
• We know that processed meat products made from cows infected with BSE present a risk for transmitting the disease.
• Information from the investigation to date suggests that the risks to human health are extremely low.
• Health Canada will continue to analyse emerging information to assess any implications on the health of Canadians.

Q2: What advice is Health Canada giving to Canadians? Should Canadians avoid eating beef?

• The information provided by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) indicates that one cow was infected with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and that it has not entered the food supply.
• Information to date suggests that the risks to human health are extremely low.
• Therefore, we have no reason to recommend that Canadians change their eating habits.
• Health Canada will continue to analyse emerging information to assess any implications on the health of Canadians.

Q3: What is Health Canada's role in this investigation?

• Our number one priority is protecting the health of Canadians.
• We are working very closely with Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) as their investigation continues to assess the implications of emerging information on the health of Canadians.
• To that end, our goal in this investigation is to prevent the entry of the infectious agent into the human food supply and other bovine-derived products.
• Information to date suggests that the risks to human health are extremely low.

Q4: What steps are being taken by Health Canada?

• We have been working very closely with Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) as part of the Agency's National Response Team and Health Canada is leading the human health part of that Team.
• We are assessing the implications of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and the emerging information from the trace back studies regarding the source of this case on human health from the food supply or other bovine products that Canadians use.
• Once we know the where, the how and the why of the infection, we will take appropriate action to minimize the exposure, if any, of Canadians to contaminated products.

Q5: What controls are currently in place to safeguard against BSE?

• Canada has had the benefit of years of lessons learned in Europe on Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE).
• We have already put in place the strategies and controls to minimize the potential for the introduction and spread of BSE in Canada.

For example:

• Since 1990, BSE has been a reportable disease in Canada. This means that any suspected case must be reported to a federal veterinarian.
• We have a ruminant-to-ruminant feeding ban. This means that Canada does not allow the rendered carcasses of ruminants - such as sheep, goats, cattle, deer and elk - and mink to be fed to ruminants. This eliminates the major transmission vector of BSE and other diseases.
• Canada also has the Canadian Cattle Identification Program for cattle and bison, making it possible to trace individual animal movements from the herd of origin to slaughter.
• Canada's BSE surveillance system doubles the rate recommended testing rate set by international standards. Since 1993, Canada has tested approximately 10,000 animals.
• The current Canadian BSE import policy restricts animals and animal products from entering Canada from countries that are known to have BSE.
• We have control and eradication program for both chronic wasting disease and scrapie (other TSEs) in Canada.

Q6: What authority does Health Canada have to act?

• Our goal is to prevent the entry of a contaminant into the food system.
• The Food and Drug Act and Regulations provides Health Canada with the regulatory authority for the safety and efficacy of a wide range of health products, food and dietary supplements, therapeutic products and vaccines, cosmetics, natural health products, consumer products and blood.
• The Act provides Health Canada with a range of tools to take actions up to and including ensuring that CFIA recalls a product, if necessary.

Q7: What would lead Health Canada to recall a food product?

• We would need reasonable evidence that the product in question posed a health risk to Canadians.
• We take a precautionary approach - epidemiological evidence of a link between a food product and human illness is enough to get us to act in the interest of public safety.
• We have done so in a number of situations in which the evidence suggested a product may pose a risk to the health of Canadians and that it would be prudent to recall it.