Steve Dealler
A medical microbiologist from the UK. I started working on BSE
in 1988/89 after the article from Holt initially pointed out
that it might be a problem. The following year I went and
visited the major researchers on the subject and found that they
had basically been ignored by the UK Ministry of Agriculture
Fisheries and Food. The decision that it was safe to eat the
brains of UK cattle had gone unchallenged by the medical
scientists and the researchers did not have the nerve to do it.
At the time I was working with Professor Lacey in Leeds (who had
already warned the newspapers that BSE was a potential risk and
that we should not dismiss it). I have basically found that he
has been largely correct over the past few years and that by the
time the proof comes it will simply be too late to anything
about it here. Other countries should be warned of the risks
that are being taken and the problems that they may cause. As
it happened I was the only one working in the field that was not
married, had no mortgage (i.e. I was very difficult to get at by
the MAFF) and so could stand and fight.
My carreer has been basically wrecked by this but time will tell
whether it was necessary. I am of no political party and have
no particular nationalistic position.
I am now married with one son (and a mortgage!).
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