Too many don't understand the infectious nature of prion related diseases such as mad cow. Prions are a highly infectious agent that has been
spread everywhere. This article speaks to the issue of how prions cross over into the VEGETABLE food sources.
www.garynull.com
Hundreds of thousands of cows infected with mad cow disease (BSE) have been destroyed in England, and the British government believes that 10 people
have succumbed to a human form of the disease as a result of eating infected beef. Last year, researchers concluded that it was possible for mad cow
disease to be passed through beef bone and marrow, and the government subsequently banned the sale of most cuts of beef on the bone.
Bone meal is commonly used as a fertilizer in agriculture, especially in organic gardening. Is it possible that people could become infected with mad
cow disease through contact with bone meal, either as they apply it to their gardens, or through ingesting residues on vegetables? Could the infective
agents, called prions, be absorbed by plants and transferred to humans who consume them? No one knows for sure, but the British government has already
banned the use of bone meal as a fertilizer in commercial agriculture.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) contends that there is no need to worry about mad cow disease in this country, since no cases have turned up
in U.S. cattle. Yet, some experts believe that a variant of the disease, perhaps just as deadly, may already be widespread. Also, infected bone meal
may be imported from other countries with the disease.
To be on the safe side, experts recommend that gardeners handling bone meal wear masks and gloves, and take care not to become exposed to the
substance through an accidental cut or splinter. Many high-phosphorous alternatives can substitute for bone meal, such as rock phosphate and soft rock
phosphate.
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
So many people think that "organic" grown foods are safe from this pandemic disease. However, the use of contaminated fertilizer has spead these
horrid little "bugs" into every food source.
Here is the a paragraph from the artilce that is most impoertant.
"[Editor: In a recent PBS special on mad cow disease, researchers found that prions were not harmed when buried in the ground for three years. In a
recent conversation I had with a university plant scientist, he said that it was theoretically possible for prions from contaminated fertilizers to be
absorbed by plants. Given these facts, it might be prudent to avoid vegetables grown with bone meal until more is known.]"
Prions take years to show up as human diseases. The questions is not IF we are all at risk, but when will the outbreak be recognized.........
[edit on 6-2-2005 by DrHoracid]