The Mad Cow is BACK! But Where is He FROM?

Just when you thought it was safe to eat a burger the Mad Cow rears its ugly head.

Being from a non-beef producing planet I would find this whole thing hilarious if it wasn't so seriously scary and economically tragic.

Things to know about this story
1) Dumped on Friday afternoon, always bad sign
2) Key details withheld. For example: WHERE WAS THE MAD COW FROM? They KNOW! But they aren't telling! Are there more? Who were its feed yard buddies? Where are they? Have they been tested? How did this cow get the Mad Cow? People, these are BASIC facts consumers want to know. Shouldn't the USDA have found that info out before they released this news? Or do they know that info and, like the location, are simply withholding it.

Note this sloppy, incomplete reporting from CNN:No mention of the origin of the cow.
AP story, no mention of the cow's origin. Reuters story at least explains WHY there was no mention:

Neither official would identify the state where the animal came from. Several published reports have said the infected cow was in Texas when it was sent to slaughter last November.

Hmmm. I'm so glad the USDA is out to protect the people WHO MAKE MAD COWS. They are chartered with protecting the revenue and the food supply. It looks like the revenue part won.

Here is another hilarious comment from the Reuters story:
Johanns said he did not think ongoing discussions with Japan to reopen beef trade would be affected by the latest case.

HA! If I wasn't a Vulcan I'd be laughing my alien ass off. This is a multi-billion dollar announcement. Why? The last Mad Cow was traced to Canada. If this one is traced to the US there ain't no way that the Japanese will allow the doors to open again unless they get 100 percent testing (which was BLOCKED by the USDA when proposed by a meatpacker who wanted to sell to the Japanese!)
Yes you read that right. A meatpacker said, "We want to test 100 percent of our cattle so we can sell it to the people who want it tested and the USDA said, "No".

They say it is because it isn't scientifically warranted, which granted, may be the case. But it is really about the money:

Such plans have drawn fire from many in the beef industry who believe the tests would amount to an added cost burden. While some other small meat packers have endorsed Creekstone's efforts, major producers and processors believe Creekstone's plan would set a bad precedent and potentially leave consumers unsettled.

Hmmmm. What to have for dinner tonight? Mercury laden tuna? GMO corn? Mad Cow Meat? I think I'll have radioactive vodka from Chernobyl.