Specific Risk Materials (SRMs) are high-risk tissues that pose the greatest risk of containing the agent associated with bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Specific Risk Materials (SRMs) are high-risk tissues that pose the greatest risk of containing the agent associated with bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

• A. Low-risk tissues
• B. Non-edible tissues
• C. Tissues that are always edible after processing
• D. High-risk tissues that pose the greatest risk of containing the agent associated with bovine spongiform encephalopathy

Answer: (D)

Specific Risk Materials are the tissues most likely to harbor the prions that cause bovine spongiform encephalopathy. These tissues are designated as high-risk because, if an animal is infected, prions concentrate there, making them the main source of potential transmission. That’s why they are controlled so they cannot enter the human food chain or are otherwise handled as non-edible. The other options don’t fit because low-risk tissues aren’t the tissues identified as carrying the prions, non-edible tissues aren’t defined by BSE risk, and the idea that tissues can always be edible after processing contradicts the purpose of SRMs, since the risk persists regardless of processing.

Specific Risk Materials are the tissues most likely to harbor the prions that cause bovine spongiform encephalopathy. These tissues are designated as high-risk because, if an animal is infected, prions concentrate there, making them the main source of potential transmission. That’s why they are controlled so they cannot enter the human food chain or are otherwise handled as non-edible. The other options don’t fit because low-risk tissues aren’t the tissues identified as carrying the prions, non-edible tissues aren’t defined by BSE risk, and the idea that tissues can always be edible after processing contradicts the purpose of SRMs, since the risk persists regardless of processing.