Feds reviewing Texas mad cow breach

WASHINGTON, May 5 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture started a review Wednesday of the recent breach of federal mad cow testing policy in Texas, UPI has learned.

A cow appeared at the Lone Star Beef Co. in San Angelo, Texas, last week displaying signs of a central nervous system disorder.

Although USDA policy calls for such animals to be tested for mad cow disease because they are considered the most likely to be infected, USDA inspectors did not follow protocol and the animal was never screened.

"We're reviewing the process involved with the Lone Star Beef plant in San Angelo to determine what happened," said David Gray, counsel to the USDA's Office of the Inspector General.

Gray said officials had not yet made any determination whether there was any malfeasance by USDA employees. The review will seek to determine "why did it happen and then we'll determine where to go from there and take appropriate action," he said.