1986: Discovery of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly called mad cow disease, in cattle in Britain.
1988: British government bans cattle feed containing cow parts and begins destroying BSE-infected cattle. (Eventually 3.7 million cattle are killed.)
1990: British agriculture minister appears on television urging his 4-year-old daughter to eat a hamburger, assuring the public that beef is safe.
1993: Canada reports its first case of mad cow disease.
1996: The British government admits BSE-infected beef may transmit mad cow disease to humans in the form of vCJD, or variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. (The classic form of CJD previously appeared mostly in the elderly.)
1997: The United States and Canada ban cattle feed containing cow parts.
At MOTHER EARTH NEWS for 50 years and counting, we are dedicated to conserving our planet's natural resources while helping you conserve your financial resources. You'll find tips for slashing heating bills, growing fresh, natural produce at home, and more. That's why we want you to save money and trees by subscribing through our earth-friendly automatic renewal savings plan. By paying with a credit card, you save an additional $5 and get 6 issues of MOTHER EARTH NEWS for only $12.95 (USA only). 
