Bovine spinal cord is classified as specified risk material (SRM) and is therefore among  those parts of the animal most likely to contain BSE infectivity. Under European law, SRM  must be removed immediately after slaughter, stained, and disposed of safely.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more


The discovery was made on Thursday (14 November) in one out of 148 quarters of beef being  unloaded at ADM Ltd, Eastbourne. The receiving company was not responsible for the problem. The beef came from Brada’s Vleeschbedrijf BV in the Netherlands. It is the third  breach by the Dutch abattoir concerned.


The beef quarter involved has been detained under the Products of Animal Origin (Import and Export) Regulations in order that the Dutch authorities may inspect it and for subsequent disposal under the supervision of the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS). The rest of the consignment was checked by the MHS and found to be in full compliance with the relevant legislation. The Chief Veterinary Officer of the Netherlands and the European Commission have been notified of this breach.


In testing for BSE in the Netherlands, there were only 11 positive tests out of 454,649 animals tested between January and December last year.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact