Fiche publication

Food-related catastrophes such as scrapie, mentioned in 19th century European literature, mad cow, observed for the first time in the United Kingdom in 1985-86and avian flu, which is currently affecting chicken farming in many countries, are symptoms of production system deficiencies that threaten to cripple the foodindustry.  The announcement of the latest crisis has heightened fears of a global pandemic and prompted numerous research initiatives supported by governmentsand food industry cooperatives. Since the early 1990s, many projects have been launched by research groups to develop new products and redesign the concept of balanced nutrition for animals destined for human consumption.