Can you catch mad cow disease from dairy products?

To the best of my knowledge, no. The misfolded protein (called a prion) that causes bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, the scientific name for mad cow disease) resides in primary the tonsils, the small intestines and the brain and spinal cord. It does not appear to locate itself in the mammary gland nor does it appear to be secreted into the milk.