Madder cows

I fear soon the phrase, "eating crow" may be replaced with a more up-to-date sentiment, "eating beef." Researchers in Europe looking at the path of mad cow disease in animals have discovered some preliminary, disturbing news. It seems that proteins responsible for the disease can, in certain conditions, find a way into other organs. This raises the concern that there is a greater risk of encountering mad cow in slaughtered animals, even if the brain and spinal cord is removed. U.S. scientists have quickly countered saying that the risk is still slim, as sick animals are pulled from the system -- but that's only if we're paying attention 100 percent of the time. Let's hope we're paying attention.

UPDATE: The first fatality in Japan from the human variant of mad cow (Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease) was announced today. The man ate beef from Britian during a one-month stay in the country in 1989. Humans can incubate Creutzfeldt-Jakob for 10 to 20 years.