I have not changed any of my eating habits as a result of BSE. However, in general eating more VGs and stuff is not such a bad idea. (I don't eat port, but eat both beef and lamb on almost-daily basis; also love fish)
No-one I know gave up beef during the BSE scare here. Why? because at that time the meat was the safest it was ever going to be because it was constantly being monitored and checked. Anyone developing CJD, the human from of BSE, was likely to have picked it up months and even years earlier so it didn't concern us too much.