Oppose the Status Quo, but Don't Change

The Food and Drug Administration "banned brains and other cattle parts that could carry mad cow disease from use in cosmetics and dietary supplements, but delayed some similar safeguards in animal feed for up to two years." In January, Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson proposed an "interim final rule" (first discussed in 2002) to strengthen animal feed regulations. "We must never be satisfied with the status quo," he said. But new feed regulations have now been downgraded to an "advance notice of proposed rulemaking," which delays possible implementation. Today, Thompson explained, "We cannot be content with the status quo."