This sudden discovery of mad cow shouldn't surprise you in the slightest if you have been following the exploits of the beef industry. Consumer watchdog groups have for a long time noticed the lack of presence of the USDA at plants and its too-cozy relationship with the industry it is
supposed to inspect but regularly covers for. The mad cow was discovered in a processing plant called Midway Meats
which has had a number of problems keeping sick animals away from its processors.
This is, unfortunately, the state of the food industry. A competitive and often evil association of businesses who, beyond the hardships they place on the food, regularly disregard the safety of those who are supposed to eat it.