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What is the risk of vCJD?

Although no causal link has been established, only people who have eaten “specified risk material” (SRM) infected with the BSE agent are thought to be at risk from vCJD. SRM refers to the parts of cattle that are most likely to be infected with the BSE agent and include the central nervous system including the brain, the spinal cord, the eye, tonsils and part of the small intestine (ileum). The BSE agent has not been detected in muscle meat (beef) or milk and WHO and EU experts have confirmed that cow milk and beef meat are safe, also if derived from a cow with clinical signs of BSE.

The risk of contracting vCJD is now very low. Strict regulations to govern animal feeding, testing, slaughter, the age of cattle slaughtered for human consumption and removal of any organs at-risk of BSE-infection, have reduced the risk.