Unbelievable Facts About Mad Cow Disease And Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

A Cow Was Struck By Random Mutation

In 2012, a cow in California almost slipped the radar since it did not display any immediate warning signs of being infected with mad cow disease. Instead of contracting this disease from eating contaminated feed, a protein in this Holstein cow mutated into an abnormal shape, affecting its brain cells. The cow in question was destined for a rendering plant for its ‘leftover parts’ not meant to be eaten by humans, but was euthanized when it became lame.

Continue reading to reveal a surprising fact related to mad cow disease and cooking the meat from an infected cow next.

Mad Cow Cannot Be Cooked Out Of Meat

When a cow contracts mad cow disease, it is sometimes caused by a mutated protein called a prion. This protein changes shape and affects the cow’s cognitive function. If a human had access to the meat of such cattle, no amount of searing, barbecuing, nor roasting would kill the prion and would not protect against the human strain, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. The protein can survive astronomical temperatures, and typical means of sterilization would not successfully kill it. This is one of the major reasons why red meat is pulled from grocery store shelves when an outbreak is detected.

Get familiar with facts related to the treatment of mad cow disease and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease next.