NEW CDC UPDATE ... New data from the joint efforts of the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) have resulted in a few changes to grocery supplies and food consumption across the United States.
In the previously mentioned groupings of states known as the East CWD Zone ( New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut ) and the West CWD Zone ( areas of Northern California, Oregon and Washington ) have banned all and any meat.
Consumption in restaurants has been banned at the risk of fines by state and federal government. Additionally, grocery stores and restaurant depots are allowed to clear their current stock of meat products, but no more meat should be considered safe to sell. Fish is still considered safe and is not bound under any guidelines. The CDC and the FDA emphasise that there have been no found cases of CWD in any seafood sources.
As per the CDC, current stores of meat are considered to be safe, but grocery stores should be prepared to provide refunds for any fresh meat, raw or cooked (not including frozen meats, such as fish sticks or frozen dinners) that were purchased after August 25th, 1983. Consumers should see grocers for more details and exceptions.
Eggs and milk are still considered safe for sale and consumption. There is currently no evidence that there can be any transmission from the avian population to their eggs, or from the bovine population through their milk. Any updates to this information are subject to immediate release to the public.
States not included in the East CWD Zone and the West CWD Zone follow all the same guidelines as listed above, with the exception of poultry consumption. Beef, pork, venison and any other meat products are banned as they are within these zones.
THE WORLD REACTS ... The new ban on animal consumption had lead to unrest, especially in states whose economy largely relies on cattle and swine farming.
Several farming unions have made efforts to sue state and federal governments for their guidelines.
Several large chain grocery stores, restaurant supply companies, and restaurant chains dependent on meat consumption have also made efforts to sue the government. Notably, McDonalds has shut down every location in the East and West CWD Zones to much fanfare in the media. Protests have begun outside of McDonalds locations as well as government offices and grocery stores.
AND IT KEEPS ON TURNING ... In other news, the Cold War continues. As CWD fear grips the United States’ omnivore population and vegetarians rejoice, diplomatic relationships between the US and Russia weaken once more.
A reported meeting between government officials went south and resulted in the end of an increasing series of cultural exchanges between the U.S. and Russia, seemingly moving the United States backwards in the timeline thus far of the Cold War.
