Thousands of pounds of beef produced by a Missouri firm is being recalled, reports the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Fruitland American Meat, based in Jackson, MO, recalled 4,012 pounds of fresh beef products that have not had their dorsal root ganglia removed completely. The issue was discovered during reviews of slaughter logs. No adverse reactions have been reported yet.

As mad cow disease has been appearing in the U.S., the natural concern is that the recalled meat may spread the fatal disease. The USDA, however, has attempted to assure the public that the cattle were inspected prior to slaughter, showing no signs of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), better known as mad cow disease.

BSE is described by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a progressive neurological disorder of cattle that results from infection by an unusual transmissible agent called a prion. The nature of the transmissible agent is not well understood. Currently, the most accepted theory is that the agent is a modified form of a normal protein known as prion protein.

According to the New York Times, the meat from Fruitland went to dozens of Whole Foods stores in the Northeast, as well as a restaurant in New York. The improper slaughtering resulted in a risk of mad cow disease. Fortunately, the hazard is described as having a “remote” and “low” risk by federal public health officials.