AS SOON as one Mad Cow Disease scare subsidies, it seems, it is followed by another.

Now, following the government's disclosure that BSE might be passed on to humans, scientists reveal strong evidence - but not proof - that it has.

Yet, once again, we are told British beef is safe.

What are consumers to believe?

They are not scientists - but they do not trust the government to give the whole story since it also has the interests of the farm and food industries to consider.

Labour is calling for a full government statement on these latest findings.

Yes, let's have them frankly and clearly spelled out.

Even so, the call by families of victims of CJD, the human form of BSE, for an independent judicial inquiry into the handling of the crisis is a process, though inevitably a slower one, whose verdict consumers would trust more.

And there is, after all, too much mistrust and confusion over BSE already.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.