American citizens are the ones who should be mad over bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Mad cow disease might have been prevented from striking U.S. cattle if the federal government had been on the ball, doing all it should to ensure food safety. Since December, when a BSE-contaminated cow was discovered in Washington state, the feds have instituted a few new regulations designed to protect meat-eaters and soothe public jitters, but are they enough? Nope, say the authors of our latest Earthly Possessions column. Don't trust the government to keep your meat safe; trust organic producers instead. Get the details, some appetizing discussion of cow guts, scrapie, and prions, and advice on finding safe and eco-friendly sources of beef -- only on the Grist Magazine website. But we warn you: Don't read it while you're eating.