Confusion between these two diseases recently occurred because both now exist in Europe. Mad cow disease has never been diagnosed in the United States, and FMD was last seen in 1929. The U.S. federal and state governments place an extremely high priority on keeping them and other foreign animal diseases out of the country. They aggressively investigate any potential cases, testing thousands of animals over the past few years. For this reason, in late March two sheep farms in Vermont were depopulated and tested because of the remote possibility that they might have a brain disease related to mad cow disease.
Animal products are safe to eat.
FMD does not infect humans and has been kept out of the United States. Meat and dairy products are tightly inspected and regulated. They are as safe as ever for human consumption.