Although Mad Cow Disease reports have hit headlines, beef remains a popular choice for Southfield High students.
Few students say they are even thinking about the possibility of beef contamination.
“I’ve seen news reports about Mad Cow,” says j unior Jasmine Mass, “but I’m not worried.”
Mass, like other students, says she continues to eat beef and has not modified her eating habits in light of the possible disease threat.
The SHS cafeterias continue to serve beef products, including hamburgers, tacos, and ground beef for chili and chili fries. And students continue to buy them, according to cafeteria workers.
“Hamburgers and cheeseburgers are sold daily, and beef is still being bought steadily,” said noon-aid Christine Hammond.
Mad Cow Disease was first discovered in Britain in 1996 and has since been found in 36 other nations, including most of Europe. The first evidence of an infected cow in the United States was on Dec. 22, 2003. One diseased holstein was found in Mabton, Wash. It has since been destroyed.
Mad Cow Disease is the cause of vCJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease) that creates fatal brain diseases in humans and 139 people worldwide have been infected.
Junior Jeffrey Horste said, “I forgot about it, and I’m ignorant to the subject.”
Signs to look for in case there is possible contraction of the disease are weight loss, bizarre laughter, aggression, staggering, uncontrollable shivers and foaming at the mouth before dying.