The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a new test which aims to prevent BSE from being carried in animal feed.
The test has been developed by the FDA’s office of research for the Centre of Veterinary Medecine (CVM) and involves a method of detecting BSE causing proteins, known as prions.
Prions are detected in a process called the polymerase chain reaction, a system capable of selecting small particles of prohibited materials which can then be amplified and identified under a microscope.
High-risk materials often derive from animal parts such as the brain or spinal chord found in cattle aged 30 years or over, who are more likely to carry agents that may lead to BSE.
Independent investigators will use the test to target feed samples from across the market to try and identify manufacturers who are using banned animal parts in their products.
BSE was first identified in Britain in 1986. The disease reached its peak during an outbreak in 1992 when over 36,000 cases were confirmed.
Under UK law all animals must be tested for BSE before they are treated for human consumption.