Last updated on 14 November 2011 Bullock aged over 72 months
enters food supply without being tested for BSE The Agency has
been notified that meat has entered the food supply from a
bullock aged over 72 months that had not been tested for BSE. A
negative BSE test result is mandatory for cattle slaughtered for
human consumption at more than 72 months of age. It is very
unlikely that the bullock was infected with BSE and as specified
risk material (SRM) was removed, any risk to human health is
extremely low. SRM is the parts of cattle most likely to carry
BSE infectivity. The bullock, aged 75 months and 7 days, was
slaughtered at C&S Meats Ltd’s abattoir in Dorset, on 2
September 2011. The error was discovered on 27 October in the
course of routine cross-checks of slaughter and BSE test data.
According to BSE regulations, the untested bullock, plus the one
slaughtered before should not have entered the food supply.
However, by the time the failure was discovered, the associated
carcasses had left the premises.