The following editorial recently appeared in the Tri-City Herald. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Spokesman-Review’s editorial board.

Discovery of another case of confirmed mad cow disease in the U.S. herd has the beef industry scrambling and the U.S. Department of Agriculture struggling to allay consumer fears. And well they might. The government has made clear the animal was a “downer cow” born before the cattle feed ban went into effect eight years ago. USDA says no part of the animal ever entered the food chain for humans or other cows.

Mad cow disease – officially called bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE – occurs when proteins called prions bend into misfolded shapes, according to USDA. They deposit plaque that kills brain cells and leaves behind spongy holes.

Cows are believed to get the disease from consuming parts of other cows that have the disease. That practice is forbidden.

The first case of mad cow in the United States occurred two years ago in a cow on a Washington farm. That cow had been part of the “Northwest herd” and had been born in Canada. A significant drop in beef consumption followed as some Americans went to other sources for their protein. A ban on importing Canadian beef ensued. The Bush administration tried to lift it earlier this year, but domestic cattle interests fought that in court.

They had been warned previously by the Canadian prime minister that if the ban remained in effect, Canadian cattle interests would be forced to develop their own processing plants, which would have a detrimental effect on the U.S. beef industry.

There is evidence they are doing just that.

But domestic cattle interests are playing a dangerous game. By questioning the safety of Canadian beef imports, then finding a domestic cow with the disease, they are put in a difficult position. If Americans are told not to trust beef born in Canada, why should they now be expected to trust beef born in this country?

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns offers words of reassurance to the industry and the public. They should be heeded:

“I am encouraged that our interlocking safeguards are working exactly as intended,” Johanns said at a news conference. “This animal was blocked from entering the food supply because of the firewalls we have in place. Americans have every reason to continue to be confident in the safety of our beef.”

He is right.

Some dip in beef consumption may again occur, but the evidence is that mad cow is rarely found and that adequate safeguards exist to prevent it from entering the human or animal food supply.

The American beef industry would be wise to take this latest event, however, as a lesson in humility and stop trying to capitalize on Canada’s difficulties when we have the same problem at home.