| Home > Resources > Leadership > Executive Summary > Case Studies Case Study 1986, Mad Cow Disease Devastates British Beef Industry Driving the U.K. government's handling of the "mad cow" (bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE) outbreak that emerged in 1986 was the desire to limit immediate costs and protect the beef industry. Operating on this principle and the belief that BSE posed little risk to humans, despite uncertain science, government leaders did not intervene early, allowing BSE to remain in the cattle population thus contributing to greater human exposure. To avert public concern about food safety and its economic impact, British leaders repeatedly dismissed BSE as a human threat. By safeguarding the cattle industry while underplaying human health risk, the government created conditions for enhanced spread of disease, diminished public trust in government management of the problem, and, paradoxically, a shrinking domestic demand for beef (e.g., down 37% from 1987 to 1995). Reference Lanska DJ. 1998. The Mad Cow Problem in the UK: Risk perceptions, risk management, and health policy development. J Public Health Policy. 19(2): 160-83. |
