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Hundreds of thousands of cows infected with mad cow disease (BSE) have been destroyed in England, and the British government believes that 10 people have succumbed to a human form of the disease as a result of eating infected beef. Last year, researchers concluded that it was possible for mad cow disease to be passed through beef bone and marrow, and the government subsequently banned the sale of most cuts of beef on the bone.

Bone meal is commonly used as a fertilizer in agriculture, especially in organic gardening. Is it possible that people could become infected with mad cow disease through contact with bone meal, either as they apply it to their gardens, or through ingesting residues on vegetables? Could the infective agents, called prions, be absorbed by plants and transferred to humans who consume them? No one knows for sure, but the British government has already banned the use of bone meal as a fertilizer in commercial agriculture.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) contends that there is no need to worry about mad cow disease in this country, since no cases have turned up in U.S. cattle. Yet, some experts believe that a variant of the disease, perhaps just as deadly, may already be widespread. Also, infected bone meal may be imported from other countries with the disease.

To be on the safe side, experts recommend that gardeners handling bone meal wear masks and gloves, and take care not to become exposed to the substance through an accidental cut or splinter. Many high-phosphorous alternatives can substitute for bone meal, such as rock phosphate and soft rock phosphate.




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