January 11, 2001
		Mama Mia! McMadcow Disease in Italian Burgers Scientists have confirmed Italy's first suspected case of mad cow disease at a slaughterhouse that provides beef to McDonald's restaurants in Italy and elsewhere in Europe. The slaughterhouse in Italy's Lombardy region belongs to the Cremonini group, which is the exclusive meat supplier for McDonald's restaurants across Italy, company spokesman Massimiliano Parbboni said Monday. Parboni couldn't immediately confirm which other countries purchase beef from the company. McDonald's had recently put up signs in many of its restaurants across Italy that aimed to reassure customers about the origin of its beef. On Monday, McDonald's still stood by its supplier, saying that the "quality, traceability and safety" of its beef protected consumers. Mad cow disease has been linked to the fatal human ailment Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a deterioration of the nervous system followed by death. So far, more than 80 people have died of this disease, mostly in Britain.