Japanese: We'll pass on U.S. beef
Survey finds 80% reluctant to eat the beef despite lifting of mad cow ban.
CNN Money
August 12 2006
TOKYO (Reuters) -- Most Japanese are extremely reluctant to eat U.S. beef, despite the ending of import bans imposed after outbreaks of mad cow disease in the United States, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported Saturday.
Sales of U.S. beef resumed in Japan this week after the lifting of the latest ban, imposed in January when Japanese inspectors found prohibited material in a shipment of veal.
Eighty percent of those surveyed by the newspaper said they were concerned about the safety of U.S. beef.
Of 1,741 people quizzed for the survey last weekend, 45 percent said they did not want to eat U.S. beef and 43 percent said they wanted to think about the issue before deciding.
Only 10 percent said they wanted to eat U.S. beef, the Yomiuri reported.
Japan initially banned imports of U.S. beef in December 2003, following the discovery of the first U.S. case of mad cow disease.
A month after lifting the ban late last year, Japan cancelled U.S. beef imports again, after spinal material was found in imported veal.
Experts believe mad cow disease can be passed to humans through infected meat.
A consumer group survey Friday found that only one Japanese food firm out of 21 planned to use U.S. beef.
Yoshinoya D&C Co. Ltd, famous for its beef noodles, had decided to use U.S. beef, Food Safety Citizen Watch said. Five other firms said they might use U.S. beef.
The survey was sent to 24 Japanese supermarkets and food industry firms.
money.cnn.com
Most Japanese still worried about US beef - survey
KTIC 840 Rural Radio
TOKYO, Aug 12, 2006 (Reuters) - Most Japanese are extremely reluctant to eat U.S. beef, despite the ending of import bans imposed after outbreaks of mad cow disease in the United States, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported on Saturday.
Sales of U.S. beef resumed in Japan this week after the lifting of the latest ban, imposed in January when Japanese inspectors found prohibited material in a shipment of veal.
Eighty percent of those surveyed by the newspaper said they were concerned about the safety of U.S. beef.
Of 1,741 people quizzed for the survey last weekend, 45 percent said they did not want to eat U.S. beef and 43 percent said they wanted to think about the issue before deciding.
Only 10 percent said they wanted to eat U.S. beef, the Yomiuri reported.
Japan initially banned imports of U.S. beef in December 2003, following the discovery of the first U.S. case of mad cow disease.
A month after lifting the ban late last year, Japan cancelled U.S. beef imports again, after spinal material was found in imported veal.
Experts believe mad cow disease can be passed to humans through infected meat.
A consumer group survey on Friday found that only one Japanese food firm out of 21 planned to use U.S. beef.
Yoshinoya D&C Co. Ltd <9861.T>, famous for its popular beef noodles, had decided to use U.S. beef, Food Safety Citizen Watch said. Five other firms said they might use U.S. beef.
The survey was sent to 24 Japanese supermarkets and food industry firms.
kticam.com
DJ UPDATE:Only 1 Japan Food Co Plans To Use US Beef After Ban
Agriculture Online
1:42 AM, August 12, 2006
TOKYO (AP)--New surveys show staunch resistance to U.S. beef in Japan despite
the recent resumption of imports, with 80% of Japanese still concerned about
its safety and only one food company planing to buy American, reports said
Saturday.
Sales of U.S. beef resumed this week for the first time since January, after
Tokyo announced on July 27 that it was easing its ban on imports of U.S. beef
over mad cow disease fears.
While the decision renewed U.S. access to what was once the most lucrative
export market for U.S. ranchers, two separate surveys published Saturday
suggest winning back market share will be difficult.
One study, conducted Aug. 5-6 by the Yomiuri newspaper, showed that 80% of
Japanese were concerned, either greatly or to some extent, about the safety of
U.S. beef. Only about 19% of those polled said they had no worries.
Asked whether they planned to eat U.S. beef, nearly 90% of the respondents
gave a negative response, with 45% saying they wouldn't and 43% saying the
decision required further consideration.
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 such as supermarkets and fast food restaurants.
Of the 21 companies that replied, only beef bowl chain Yoshinoya D&C Co. said
it would use U.S. beef, the report said.
Seven companies - including McDonald's Holdings Co. and Zensho Co., which
also sells beef bowl dishes - said they had no plans to use U.S. beef, while
seven others indicated they won't use U.S. beef "for the time being," Kyodo
News reported.
Other respondents said they would decide after viewing "consumer trends and
the quality and price of the beef."
Japan initially banned U.S. beef imports in December 2003 after the first
case of mad cow disease in the U.S. The ban was eased in December 2005, but
reimposed in January after prohibited spinal bones were found in a veal
shipment.
The Yomiuri randomly surveyed 3,000 eligible voters nationwide and received
responses from 1,741 people. It gave no margin of error. Kyodo did not provide
polling details for its survey.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
agriculture.com
