Rancher, state vet to speak of food safety at City Club of Portland forum
On Friday, March 19, City Club of Portland welcomes to its Friday Forum two experienced agriculture professionals—rancher Jack Southworth and state veterinarian Dr. Andrew A. Clark—to discuss food safety, especially that of beef production in light of the recent detection of mad cow disease in Washington last December. The two presenters will discuss what happened and what interventions are underway; how BSE prevention activities and other quality assurance programs relate to food safety, especially of meat products; the real risks involved; and the roles of producers and regulatory agencies.
Portland, OR (PRWEB) March 10, 2004
On Friday, March 19, City Club of Portland welcomes to its Friday Forum two experienced agriculture professionals—rancher Jack Southworth and state veterinarian Dr. Andrew A. Clark—to discuss food safety, especially that of beef production in light of the recent detection of mad cow disease in Washington last December. The two presenters will discuss what happened and what interventions are underway; how BSE prevention activities and other quality assurance programs relate to food safety, especially of meat products; the real risks involved; and the roles of producers and regulatory agencies.
Last December, mad cow disease was detected in a Canadian-born cow slaughtered in Washington. The disease -- officially bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE -- is a chronic, degenerative disorder that attacks the central nervous system of cattle. It is believed to spread when infected animals are turned into animal feed, allowing infected tissue into the food chain. BSE has been linked to a fatal brain-wasting disease in humans and has devastated international cattle trade from affected nations. While U. S. beef producers contend their product is safe, one watchdog group suggests that a typical burger patty is packed with parts of 50 to 100 cattle from multiple states and two to four countries. In a yearÂ’s time, it says, the average American samples a veritable herd: 5,200 to 10,400 cattle.
What are the health risks with this staple of the American diet? How did BSE end up here? WhoÂ’s responsible? What are the risks to our livestock and our food supply? WhatÂ’s being done to protect the public... and is it enough?
This program, which is open to the public, will be held at Multnomah Athletic Club (1849 S. W. Salmon St.). Doors open at 11:30 AM. The program runs from 12:15 to 1:15 PM. Luncheon reservations and cancellations are available online at www. pdxcityclub. org or from (503) 228-7231 (members only call 503-241-9242) by 2 PM Wednesday, March 17. Luncheon tickets are $16 for members, $18 for nonmembers. Coffee tickets are $5 at the door. General seating is free for members and $5 for nonmembers.
The week of March 14-20, 2004 is National Agriculture Week.
About the speakers
With his wife Teresa, Jack Southworth owns and operates Southworth Bros. Ranch, a cow-calf-yearling ranch located on the south side of the Strawberry Mountains near the small town of Seneca. The ranch was homesteaded by his great-grandfather in 1885 and has been operated by his family ever since. Southworth is a founding member of Oregon Country Beef and helped draft beef production standards for Food Alliance, a nonprofit organization that promotes sustainable agriculture. He is a graduate of Oregon State University, president of Grant County Farm Bureau, a director of Blue Mountain Hospital, Oregon Agricultural Education Foundation, the E. R. Jackman Foundation, and the Blue Mountain Healthcare Foundation.
From 1996 to 2003, Dr. Andrew A. Clark served as State Veterinarian for the Oregon Department of Agriculture and today resumes his earlier work as State Field Veterinarian for ODAÂ’s Eastern Oregon office in Pendleton, a post he held since 1973, with the exception of seven years he spent performing agriculture development work in northern Kenya and central Tanzania. Clark spent another nine years in Tanzania from 1964 to 1973 with the Peace Corps and as a contract veterinarian.
About City Club of Portland
City Club of Portland is a nonprofit, nonpartisan education and research based civic organization dedicated to community service, public affairs and leadership development. Through weekly Friday Forums, citizen-based research reports, special programs and issue committees, City Club examines issues of importance to the Portland metropolitan region, the state and society as a whole. Membership is open to everyone.
For more information about City Club of Portland, please visit www. pdxcityclub. org or call (503) 228-7231.
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