BSE and the Politics of Food

Abstract

Britain’s experience with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) offers a clear example of a policy disaster. The losers included those who died from the new variant of Creutzfeld-Jakob disease (NVCJD) (the human equivalent of BSE); other consumers worried about possible health effects; farmers whose livelihoods were disrupted; and the Major government whose reputation for competence and honesty was further damaged. Britain’s relationship with Europe also suffered additional strain.