So much for Aid

GF sees that FDA to incinerate foreign aid meant for victims of Hurricane Katrina. This article explains

The American Food and Drug Administration has recalled operational rations (MREs) donated by Britain to help survivors of Hurricane Katrina.

Oh! Why is that then?

An FDA spokesman said the rations had not been inspected but were automatically deemed "unfit for human consumption" due to Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or colloquially "mad cow disease") fears.

Interesting when the article acknowledges

BSE is much more of a problem in the U.S. than in Britain.

Apparently

The move has infuriated aid workers who hasten to point out that "Under NATO, American soldiers are also entitled to eat such rations, yet the starving of the American South will see them go up in smoke because of FDA red tape madness."

Nice to know we helped, eh?

Update:See also

• Katrina aid from UK to be burned; US red tape, and
• Katrina Relief To Be Burned

[File under: Katrina, FDA, Aid]