August 14, 2006

 

Surveys show stiff resistance to US beef in Japan and South Korea

 

 

US beef is encountering stiff resistance in Japan as a survey indicated that 80 percent of consumers in Japan still have safety issues on US beef.

 

One study, conducted this month by the Yomiuri newspaper, showed that 80 percent  of Japanese were concerned, either greatly or to some extent, about the safety of US beef. Nineteen percent of those polled said they had no worries.

 

Asked whether they planned to eat US beef, nearly 90 percent of the respondents gave a negative response, with 45 percent saying they would not and 43 percent saying the decision required further consideration.

 

Three thousand eligible voters were randomly chosen nationwide and responses were received from 1,741 people.

 

In another survey, conducted last month by the Consumers Union of Japan and Food Safety Citizens' Watch, questionnaires were sent to major food industry companies.

 

Of the 21 companies that replied, only beef bowl chain Yoshinoya D&C Co said it would use US beef, the report said.

 

Even McDonald's, long regarded as an icon of American culture, said it had no plans to use US beef for the time being, Kyodo News reported.

 

However, the first shipment of US beef after Japan lifted its ban last week was sold out on its first day in the Japanese market. The 5-tonne shipment was imported by Costco Wholesale Japan Inc.

 

Meanwhile, in South Korea, a nationwide survey indicated that seven out of 10 housewives are unwilling to buy US beef.

 

The Korea Rural Economic Institute interviewed 651 urban housewives and found that close to 70 percent of them were unwilling to buy US beef.

 

The state-run agricultural institute has also found that the majority of them would not be eating US beef, even if the government only imports the boneless version free of spinal cords and brains. 

 

Only 6.7 percent regarded US beef as safe to eat and the other 23.1 percent said there are still safety issues to be resolved.

 

South Korean civic groups are calling on the government to pay more attention to consumers' health than to their relationship with the US.

 

US senators sent a letter to President Roh Moo-hyun last week, warning that South Korea's continued ban on US beef may put the FTA between the two countries in jeopardy.