What is the primary concern regarding Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)?

The primary concern regarding Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad cow disease, is its potential to infect humans. BSE is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy caused by misfolded proteins known as prions. The significant public health issue arises from the fact that humans can contract a variant of the disease called variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) by consuming beef products contaminated with BSE-infected tissue. This connection between BSE in cattle and a serious neurological disease in humans has led to heightened regulatory scrutiny and measures aimed at controlling and eradicating BSE, which makes human health a central concern.

Other concerns such as meat flavor, growth rates, and breeding decisions, while relevant to the beef industry, do not carry the same level of public health implications as the transmission of BSE to humans. The potential health risk emphasizes the need for stringent food safety regulations and monitoring, thus solidifying the potential human infection as the primary concern regarding BSE.