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Eliminating the risk of exposure to infection with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)
continues to be a public health and veterinarian concern. Although a variety of precautionary
firewalls have been implemented in the United States to prevent the occurrence and spread of
infection to humans and animals, a second line of defense based on processing steps that kill the
causative agent would serve as another layer of prevention. <P>
Ultra-high pressure cooking of tissues has been shown to be an effective and practical means to
eliminate the presence of the infectious agent that causes BSE. Beginning in 2001, researchers
conducted an initial set of experiments to determine whether ultra-high pressure at various
temperatures and exposure times would inactivate transiform encephalopathies (TSEs). <P>
The objective of this study was to build upon the previously conducted research and find more
commercially viable methods of applying this technology.
Findings: Eliminating the risk of exposure to infection with mad cow disease (which has now been detected in the USA) continues to be a public health and veterinarian concern. Although a variety of precautionary measures have been implemented to prevent the occurrence and spread of disease to humans and animals, a second line of defense based on processing steps that kill the causative agent would clearly be desirable. Ultra high pressure cooking of tissues has been shown to be an effective and practical means to achieve this goal. Application of the method to bovine carcass tissues that are banned from any use (specified risk materials, or SRMs) has also been shown to be a commercially viable alternative to their currently mandated destruction.
<P> For complete projects details, view the <a href="http://www.beefresearch.org/CMDocs/BeefResearch/High%20Pressure%20&%20T…; target="_blank">Project Summary. </a>