These articles (one from 1/30 and one from 1/31 N.Y. Times should help
ease some of the confusion that seems to exist about conditions in the
U.S.  involving some pet and human food supplies as well as giving some
data from Europe):
 
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/30/health/30MAD.html
 
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/31/health/31MADC.html
 
They are also simply interesting reading.
[Posted in FML issue 3314]