June 16, 2006

Japanese consumers skeptical to US beef

Consumers are skeptical that US beef is safe despite government efforts to ease public concerns through 10 nationwide public hearings, the Japan Times reported.

Instead of reassuring consumers, the meetings had served to amplify consumer criticism, especially after news reports surfaced that the government may allow US beef imports as early as next week.

More than 370 participants, many from consumer groups and food services, attended the hearing in Tokyo. Many expressed anger that last December's government audit of US and Canadian slaughterhouses was not released until April and had passages blacked out, raising suspicions that inconvenient facts were deliberately hidden from public view.

Some participants also remarked that Japan is simply going along with what the US says.

Even some government officials admitted they had concerns about aspects of the US beef inspection system.

When it was suggested that some US cattle feed may still contain bone meal, which was suspected of causing mad cow disease, Hiroshi Nakagawa, director general of the Agricultural Ministry's Food Safety and Consumer Affairs Bureau, conceded these are problems that have been pointed out to the US.

However, Japan has not heard of any plans to change procedures on the part of the US, he said.

In February, 45 cows in Hokkaido were destroyed after one at a farm there died of mad cow disease. The cow had been fed bone meal, which Japan banned after its first of over two dozen mad cow cases surfaced in 2001.

The attendees wanted US beef to be subjected to the same procedures against mad cow disease, as Japanese beef, such as thorough inspections of feed, mad cow tests on all cattle, complete traceability and removal of risk materials.