The FDA recently announced that out of 180 cattle-rendering companies, about 25 percent did not label properly or keep animal carcasses and remains separate and distinct. Out of 347 FDA-licensed feed mills, another quarter was found to be in the same violations. Of about 1600 smaller feed mills that are too miniscule for licensing, The New York Times says that a whopping 40 percent were failing to follow guidelines. The paper also estimates there are about 5000 more unlicensed feed mills that thus far have escaped inspection. Hence the Texas feed lot quarantine.
Zoos also are at risk.
To date most zoos still are failing to conduct prion tests on dead animals. Spanish officials say they can't afford to test the carcasses, as it would cost the nation, where BSE recently was discovered, more than it would gain in revenue. Nor is the FDA policing the pharmaceutical companies with any real consistency. FDA officials, however, maintain that vaccines are safe, estimating the odds of contracting vCJD from a vaccination at one in 40 million to one in 40 billion. You'd probably have a better chance of winning the lottery.