STOP AND GO

Yet another hole in the theory that we can trust livestock operators with the integrity of our food: The FDA has reiterated a ban on a drug used in cattle that can cause anemia and other blood diseases in humans. Reiterated because they had already phased out the drug in 1996 in regulations that have apparently been ignored by enough farmers to warrent this public airing of dirty laundry. Not all farmers were flouting the law, but "I think it was enough for us to feel that this was not an isolated incident," said the FDA compliance officer. Great, these are the folks making sure we don't wind up with Mad Cow here; wonder what they'll reiterate next?