Why was UK's Katrina aid rejected by US?

[emad]

The US has blocked the distribution of 357,000 British ration packs sent out to help survivors of Hurricane Katrina, amid fears they are infected with mad cow disease. So what happened?

In total 475,000 food packs, some of which were vegetarian, left RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on 5 September after a request for help from the US authorities.

The high-calorie meals, which are routinely consumed by British soldiers, arrived by plane in Arkansas and were shipped 355 miles to New Orleans. By this time, food inspectors had become aware the packets may need to be checked, but they could not get to all the distribution points because of flooding.

They intercepted 357,000 of the packs and stopped them going any further because they were deemed to contravene the ban which has been in place since the BSE crisis. Today these meals remain stored in a warehouse, at a cost of $16,000 a month, while the US tries to find a suitable foreign recipient.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4349916.stm

[greygandalf]

1. Your question is answered in the article.

mad cow disease

[tocqueville]

2. but they are good enough for GIs

NATO-rations are interchangeable. Talking about BSE, maybe in that case it stands for Bull Shit Example.

No new cases have been seen in Europe since the measures taken some years ago. Probably have those rations been manufactured AFTER the measures have been taken.

Obviously the rations are good enough for some 3rd world country.

[Oreo]

3. What about the vegetarian ones?

Mad Carrot Disease?

[melody]

4. Why did ice meant for Katrina victims end up in Maine?

Some petulant little bullies were trying to make damned sure their critics (Democrats) died. I don't know when the world press will finally grasp that. These Republicans are vicious bastards.

Whatever the reason on paper, it wasn't good enough to explain refusing meals that were sorely needed.