Suspect BSE case in Italy hits Cremonini - bovine spongiform encephalopathy - Brief Article

Eurofood, Feb 1, 2001

A cow suspected to be infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was found at a slaughterhouse owned by Italian meat processor Cremonini, which caused concern amongst consumers and food companies alike in Italy. Cremonini is a supplier of beef burgers to US fastfood giant McDonald's, which was quick to reassure its Italian customers that the suspected infected cow was not at a site which manufactures the burgers for McDonald's Italia. In response to the news, Cremonini issued a statement: "All the official procedures under the law were immediately applied. The carcass was identified and quarantined while final testing was conducted."

Cremonini also supplies its meat products to a wide range of restaurants and food outlets across Europe, as well as exporting meat to the US. With regard to Italy, Cremonini supplies around 40% of beef to the Italian market, including supplying some 295 McDonald's restaurants in Italy.

Before and during the Christmas period, Cremonini, along with the Italian Cattle Farmers' Association, had been promoting Italian meat as safe, and preceding the case, Italy was considered free of the disease. In a clear reaction to the possible BSE case, Cremonini shares slumped on the Milan Stock Exchange.