Photo‑ops, reassurance and political theatre

Part 2 of 4 on Mad Cow Disease: In this episode,  the cracks in enforcement are showing, panic is slowly boiling, and the science is catching up. 

What we cover: 

• The panic spike when BSE appears in domestic cats
• The danger of stopping at the legislation, without interrogating whether industry is complying and how you would know.
• The reassurance cycle – shock, anxiety, reassurance, repeat, and whether the Government could or should have said more.   
• The political landscape of EU export pressure, an era of deregulation, and expensive subsidies
• From variable, localised enforcement to a centralised Meat Hygiene Service. 
• Where we end up by late 1995 – no human cases yet, but the MHS has a horrifying revelation that undermines trust in the controls.  

This podcast was recorded on Kaurna land, and we recognise Kaurna elders past and present. Always was, always will be.

Now for some appropriately bureaucratic disclaimers....

While we have tried to be as thorough in our research as busy full time jobs and lives allow, we definitely don’t guarantee that we’ve got all the details right.

Please feel free to email us corrections, episode suggestions, or anything else, at thewestminstertraditionpod@gmail.com.

Thanks to PanPot audio for our intro and outro music. 

'Til next time!