FDA Recommends Firms Not Use High-Risk Protein (mad cow in cosmetics)

[Sliverofhope]

FDA Week
16 Jul 2004

The FDA is urging cosmetic firms to not use certain cattle-derived substances in their products, because consumers run a slight risk in acquiring the human version of mad cow disease if they apply cosmetics tainted with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) to open cuts. The recommendation is included in the FDA's risk assessment dealing with the potential for BSE in cosmetics.
 
The FDA notes that the primary path of human exposure to BSE is through ingesting beef, and other food, from cattle, but points out that small doses of the infectious prions that cause mad cow disease can be found in cosmetics.
 
But, "large uncertainties" exist about the number of cosmetic products on the market that may pose a risk to human health, the agency says, adding, that any estimate of the risk, or rate at which BSE may be expected to occur, would be imprecise.

http://www.rense.com/general54/bsee.htm