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TOKYO, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Only one Japanese food firm out of 21 would use American beef that has returned to the market after being withdrawn due to mad cow contamination, a consumer group survey found on Friday.

The Food Safety Citizen Watch said Yoshinoya D&C Co. Ltd. (9861.T: Quote, NEWS, Research) was the only company that said it had decided to use U.S. beef.

Five other firms replied they might use U.S. beef, which sold in Japan this week for the first time in six months, under certain circumstances.

The survey was sent to 24 Japanese supermarket operators and food industry firms, sectors that were major users of U.S. beef before the discovery of mad cow disease in December 2003.

A ban was briefly lifted in January, only to be re-imposed when Japanese inspectors found prohibited material in a veal shipment from a New York firm.

Yoshinoya, which took beef bowls off its menu after the first ban, has said it plans to revive the popular dish.

In the survey, one firm said it would closely track consumer views and the price, quality and import volume of U.S. beef before making a decision about whether to use the meat.

Another firm said it would wait for import volume and price to stabilise, while others said they would wait for the safety of U.S. meat to become widely accepted.

Japan has said it will only import beef from cattle aged up to 20 months.

Industry officials say they are unlikely to be able to secure the same volumes they had prior to the ban.

Seven of the firms said they would not use U.S. beef for the time being.

The consumer group said the remaining eight firms provided other responses, but did not elaborate.

The first shipment of U.S. beef since January, amounting to five tonnes, was imported by the Japanese unit of U.S. warehouse club operator Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST.O: Quote, Profile, Research), which operates five stores in Japan.

The beef sold out in one day.

However, industry officials say sales are likely to be slow at first due to lingering consumer concerns about safety.

Prior to the ban, the United States was one of the top suppliers of beef to Japan.

Japan's U.S. beef imports amounted to 240,000 tonnes, valued at $1.4 billion in 2003.

Rival Australia now dominates Japan's market for imported beef.

http://today.reuters.com/

tss

<blockquote data-quote="flounder" data-source="post: 134177" data-attributes="member: 650">TOKYO, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Only one Japanese food firm out of 21 would use American beef that has returned to the market after being withdrawn due to mad cow contamination, a consumer group survey found on Friday. The Food Safety Citizen Watch said Yoshinoya D&amp;C Co. Ltd. (9861.T: Quote, NEWS, Research) was the only company that said it had decided to use U.S. beef. Five other firms replied they might use U.S. beef, which sold in Japan this week for the first time in six months, under certain circumstances. The survey was sent to 24 Japanese supermarket operators and food industry firms, sectors that were major users of U.S. beef before the discovery of mad cow disease in December 2003. A ban was briefly lifted in January, only to be re-imposed when Japanese inspectors found prohibited material in a veal shipment from a New York firm. Yoshinoya, which took beef bowls off its menu after the first ban, has said it plans to revive the popular dish. In the survey, one firm said it would closely track consumer views and the price, quality and import volume of U.S. beef before making a decision about whether to use the meat. Another firm said it would wait for import volume and price to stabilise, while others said they would wait for the safety of U.S. meat to become widely accepted. Japan has said it will only import beef from cattle aged up to 20 months.Industry officials say they are unlikely to be able to secure the same volumes they had prior to the ban. Seven of the firms said they would not use U.S. beef for the time being. The consumer group said the remaining eight firms provided other responses, but did not elaborate. The first shipment of U.S. beef since January, amounting to five tonnes, was imported by the Japanese unit of U.S. warehouse club operator Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST.O: Quote, Profile, Research), which operates five stores in Japan. The beef sold out in one day. However, industry officials say sales are likely to be slow at first due to lingering consumer concerns about safety. Prior to the ban, the United States was one of the top suppliers of beef to Japan. Japan&#039;s U.S. beef imports amounted to 240,000 tonnes, valued at $1.4 billion in 2003. Rival Australia now dominates Japan&#039;s market for imported beef. http://today.reuters.com/tss</blockquote>

[QUOTE="flounder, post: 134177, member: 650"] TOKYO, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Only one Japanese food firm out of 21 would use American beef that has returned to the market after being withdrawn due to mad cow contamination, a consumer group survey found on Friday. The Food Safety Citizen Watch said Yoshinoya D&C Co. Ltd. (9861.T: Quote, NEWS, Research) was the only company that said it had decided to use U.S. beef. Five other firms replied they might use U.S. beef, which sold in Japan this week for the first time in six months, under certain circumstances. The survey was sent to 24 Japanese supermarket operators and food industry firms, sectors that were major users of U.S. beef before the discovery of mad cow disease in December 2003. A ban was briefly lifted in January, only to be re-imposed when Japanese inspectors found prohibited material in a veal shipment from a New York firm. Yoshinoya, which took beef bowls off its menu after the first ban, has said it plans to revive the popular dish. In the survey, one firm said it would closely track consumer views and the price, quality and import volume of U.S. beef before making a decision about whether to use the meat. Another firm said it would wait for import volume and price to stabilise, while others said they would wait for the safety of U.S. meat to become widely accepted. Japan has said it will only import beef from cattle aged up to 20 months. Industry officials say they are unlikely to be able to secure the same volumes they had prior to the ban. Seven of the firms said they would not use U.S. beef for the time being. The consumer group said the remaining eight firms provided other responses, but did not elaborate. The first shipment of U.S. beef since January, amounting to five tonnes, was imported by the Japanese unit of U.S. warehouse club operator Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST.O: Quote, Profile, Research), which operates five stores in Japan. The beef sold out in one day. However, industry officials say sales are likely to be slow at first due to lingering consumer concerns about safety. Prior to the ban, the United States was one of the top suppliers of beef to Japan. Japan's U.S. beef imports amounted to 240,000 tonnes, valued at $1.4 billion in 2003. Rival Australia now dominates Japan's market for imported beef. http://today.reuters.com/ tss [/QUOTE]

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