Each unto their own

Date: 13/02/1997

Different people marked the completion of the BSE committee of inquiry's work in different ways.

The Green Group in the European Parliament, for instance, held a special event entitled 'BSE: a lesson for Europe'. There was a press conference, a brochure and a new book on healthy European eating called Diese Suppe ess ich nicht (I won't eat this soup). This was followed by a tasting of the Portuguese wine Branco Seco Extra (BSE)...

Meanwhile, back in the Espace Leopold, BSE inquiry member and British Socialist MEP Philip Whitehead staged his own private thanksgiving ceremony.

He took a last look at the large chocolate cow which he had placed on his desk when the inquiry began and then smashed it to bits.

Undaunted by the inquiry findings about mad cow disease, he then scoffed the lot, so far with no ill effects.