Marler Blog - The Raw Economics Driving the Use of Downers - Comments http://www.marlerblog.com/ Food Poisoning Lawyer & Attorney : Bill Marler : Marler Clark en Copyright 2012 Wed, 16 May 2012 05:16:08 -0800 Wed, 16 May 2012 05:16:08 -0800 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=4.32-en http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss jane Genova This economic analysis of a regulatory problem is an interesting approach for an attorney to take. And, I can bet it will also be an effective one to persuade all constituencies - government, cattle producers and beef-eaters - to continue the ban on all non-ambulatory animals.

]]> http://www.marlerblog.com/lawyer-oped/the-raw-economics-driving-the-use-of-downers/#7985 http://www.marlerblog.com/lawyer-oped/the-raw-economics-driving-the-use-of-downers/#7985 Lawyer Op-Ed Tue, 04 Mar 2008 06:17:37 -0800 marler@marlerclark.com (Food Poisoning Lawyer) MaryF Thank you for this informative commentary. Using non-ambulatory animals as food is reckless and extremely inhumane. Concerned individuals should let the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture know that they are opposed (see: http://tinyurl.com/29wdpq ). There is legislation pending in Congress to ban the use of non-ambulatory animals in the human food supply. To support it, see "Downed Animal and Food Safety Protection Act" at: http://tinyurl.com/2qot24

]]> http://www.marlerblog.com/lawyer-oped/the-raw-economics-driving-the-use-of-downers/#7986 http://www.marlerblog.com/lawyer-oped/the-raw-economics-driving-the-use-of-downers/#7986 Lawyer Op-Ed Tue, 04 Mar 2008 06:17:37 -0800 marler@marlerclark.com (Food Poisoning Lawyer) MikeB The only way to get something like this to work is to make sure that the stake holders are themselves at risk when processing downers. IE- legislate a huge fines for farmers supplying downers to slaughter houses and even bigger fines for slaughter houses that process downers. Just make sure the risk well outweighs the potential gain. The analysis is done for the industry but the dollar grab is done by individuals. If a farmer slips a downer into the system and gets away with it, the farmer gains. If the slaughterhouse slips the downer through their system they gain at that moment.

Chances of this ever happening I would guess to be 0. The fact that in all the 35 million cattle slaughtered yearly not one case of BSE has surfaced does leave one wondering.

]]> http://www.marlerblog.com/lawyer-oped/the-raw-economics-driving-the-use-of-downers/#7987 http://www.marlerblog.com/lawyer-oped/the-raw-economics-driving-the-use-of-downers/#7987 Lawyer Op-Ed Tue, 04 Mar 2008 06:17:37 -0800 marler@marlerclark.com (Food Poisoning Lawyer)