Volume 6: Human Health, 1989-96
3. Introduction of the ban on Specified Bovine Offal
Publication of the Report
The announcement
Concerns raised on publication of the Report

The announcement

3.57 On 27 February 1989 the publication of the Southwood Report was announced by Mr MacGregor in a written Parliamentary Answer and was later the subject of a joint press conference by MAFF and DH. The Government publicly welcomed the Report and its recommendations and thanked the Working Party for its efforts.

3.58 The announcement dealt with the matter of baby food as follows:

The report suggests, however, that the manufacturers of baby food should avoid the use of bovine thymus and offal.

Sir Richard Southwood has confirmed that the term 'offal' as it is used in the report (as defined in the regulations quoted) refers to brain, spinal cord, spleen and intestines (tripe). The chief medical officer is satisfied that none of these, nor thymus, are used in the manufacture of baby food and advises that mothers ought not to feed these materials to infants of, say, under 18 months. As a precautionary measure, I am however taking steps to ensure through secondary legislation that it will be illegal for anyone to sell baby food containing such products in future. With regard to other meats which people sometimes refer to as offal - such as kidney, liver and heart - the chief medical officer advises there is no need for concern. These are extremely nutritious foods which are beneficial. ¹

Concerns raised on publication of the Report

3.59 As soon as the Southwood Report was published, concerns were raised as to the risks posed by potentially infective tissues in subclinicals.

3.60 Dr Helen Grant, a consultant neuropathologist at Charing Cross Hospital, appeared on the BBC's nine o'clock television news on 27 February 1989 (the day the Southwood Report was published). She was asked, among other things, to comment on the possible human hazard of BSE and she warned that she thought there was a risk because cattle brains were going into the food chain. Dr Grant added: 'Who knows? Some of us may be incubating it already.' ²

3.61 On the following day in the House of Commons, Mr John Evans, a member of the Opposition, asked Mrs Thatcher, the Prime Minister:

If, as appears likely to the Secretary of State for Health, BSE is a threat to humanity, why not ban the use of this offal for all human consumption? If according to the Minister of Agriculture, it is not a danger, why was it banned for consumption for babies?

3.62 We set out Mrs Thatcher's response in our discussion section below.