This just out from McDonald's, regarding the Mad Cow situation:

This situation has absolutely no connection whatsoever to McDonald's or our suppliers.

McDonald's has the most experienced, comprehensive and trusted quality assurance programs in the world. In fact, our strict safety guidelines absolutely prohibit cows of this kind to ever enter our supply chain. McDonald's has a longstanding, proven track record of ensuring a safe beef supply, including successfully protecting our food supply against BSE based on our experience around the world.

And don't you forget it, dammit. Meanwhile, McDonald's stock is down five percent on the day.

Elsewhere, USDA officials, including Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman, tried - in this press conference - to reassure everyone this morning that they had a handle on everything.

We believe our BSE (Mad Cow) response plan...has provided us a strong scientific basis with which to control this situation...The risk to human health from this situation is extremely low.

Expect sales of Filet o' Fish to rise this quarter, nonetheless.