The detection of a Holstein cow infected with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) (commonly known as “mad cow” disease) at a dairy in Washington state raises significant questions about the effectiveness and validity of existing food safety regulations and the ability of the federal government to detect the presence of the disease under current procedures.¹ Likewise, the presence of BSE in the U.S. will almost certainly force the Congress to reconsider legislation that addresses the safety of the U.S. meat supply.