The U.S. government is considering expanding its ban against brains and spinal tissue in cattle feed to include food for all species, according to an Associated Press report.

Stephen Sundlof, director of the Center for Veterinary Medicine at the Food and Drug Administration, told AP the agency would probably write new regulations, one of which could require companies that slaughter "downed" livestock  to dispose of the brain and spinal cord before mixing animal feed and pet food.

The FDA is said to be working with slaughterhouses and animal feed companies to come up with a plan by 2007 to prevent high-risk materials like spinal tissue from ending up in feed.