Do You Need To Worry About Mad Cow Disease During Your European Trip

Do you remember back in the 1980's when the United Kingdom had a big outbreak of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) also known as mad cow disease? That outbreak put quite a scare into many people. You see the standard practice used to be to process old, dying or dead cows and turn them into food. This food was then fed to other cows. Well, the problem was that some of these cows had Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and when the healthy cows consumed this food, they became infected too. This illness was then passed on to humans through various beef products after slaughter.

The question that probably lingers in the back of everyone's mind is: Can I contract mad cow disease these days? The answer is yes; however, the chances are very slim. For the most part, as long as you take precautions with what you eat, you should be fine; even if you are traveling to the United Kingdom or other countries where mad cow disease has been most prevalent.

The only way to really get Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is to eat beef products. Therefore, if you feel really hesitant about eating beef, then don't do it. However, if you are a carnivore that just can't go long without a nice juicy steak, then go for it. Many scientists believe that the prions which cause mad cow disease are primarily centered on the brain and spinal cord area. Therefore, it would be less likely to contract the disease if you ate more muscular pieces of meat like roast and certain cuts of steak without the bone.

Of course, those beef products such as hot dogs and sausage should not be consumed if at all possible while you are traveling abroad. After all, what are hot dogs made from? They typically have a lot of the leftover meat from a cow which is then processed for hot dogs. This means that spinal matter, brain and other parts often makes its way into processed meats that use all parts of the animal. And take note – freezing the meat or cooking it fully does not kill the prions which cause this disease.

Stick with a diet that includes pork, fish, fruits and vegetables. These have thus far been untouched by the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. In addition, there is no evidence that mad cow disease is transferred in the cow's milk either. So go ahead and enjoy your favorite ice cream, cheese and other milk products.

Some of the human symptoms of mad cow disease can be scary business. The disease can greatly affect your memory as well as your appetite and can cause weight loss. You may also get muscle spasms as well as a loss of control or movement of your body parts. Affected people tend to start stumbling around in confusion. They could experience depression and anxiety. Paranoia is a problem as well.

The bottom line is to use your best judgment when it comes to consuming beef overseas. If you like living dangerously, go ahead and order the beef dish on your menu. Or play it safe and go for alternate products such as fish, pork, seafood and more.

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