Volume 1: Findings and Conclusions
6. Protecting human health
Introduction

494 We now turn to that part of the BSE story that has direct relevance to human health. There are many aspects to this part of the story. The main part of this chapter will follow a chronological sequence. However, we propose to introduce at the outset the CJD Surveillance Unit, which was to play a key role in the latter stages of the human health story; and to discuss at the outset as a discrete topic the slaughter and destruction of animals showing signs of BSE and the compensation paid to the owners of those animals.

495 The most obvious pathway by which BSE might be transmitted from cattle to humans was by the food chain. It was that pathway which caused concern to the public. And it was the public's concern about that pathway which was of concern to the Government. The Government was anxious to do all that it believed to be necessary to protect human health. But having taken that action, it was anxious to reassure members of the public that their health was not at risk. MAFF had a dual role. It had to make sure that meat which left a slaughterhouse was safe to eat. That was its prime concern. But it also had to have regard to the interests of the farming industry. There was a continuous concern on the part of MAFF officials and Ministers that the agricultural industry would be damaged by reactions to BSE on the part of the public that were irrational. This concern did not lead them to conceal information from the public. It did, however, lead them to attempt to ensure that information was presented in a manner that would not cause alarm. This sometimes involved delaying disclosure of information. It involved repeated statements that there was no evidence that BSE was transmissible to humans. It involved attempts to present to the public in the most compelling way the message that it was safe to eat beef.

496 This part of our narrative will follow the BSE story of which the public were aware: the events which provoked apprehension on their part and the statements that were made to them about the risk posed by BSE. It will examine the policy decisions that the Government had to take in relation to potential dangers posed by BSE to the human food chain. It will look in particular at public pronouncements and government action in the final months leading up to 20 March 1996.

497 We shall deal later, as separate topics, with aspects of the BSE story of which the general public were unaware:

• Action taken in relation to human and veterinary medicines.
• Action taken in relation to cosmetics.
• International trade.

498 Finally we shall consider the experience of those young victims who were struck down by vCJD and of their families, in order to see what lessons can be learned about dealing with this terrible disease.