Diseased Cow Rendered Into Meat and Bone Meal

A nationwide probe for “mad cow” disease after the discovery of what could be Asia’s first such case revealed that the suspect animal was not destroyed as previously announced but processed into meat and bone meal, a Japanese government spokesman said.

Agriculture Ministry spokesman Toshimichi Kado said the investigation revealed that a meal plant and a feed mill in two different prefectures were in possession of tons of meal that included processed meat and bones from the suspect 5-year-old Holstein dairy cow.

Earlier the government said the animal had been slaughtered and burned. Kado said a misunderstanding between ministry officials and local authorities had resulted in the erroneous announcement.