Japanese: We'll pass on U.S. beef
Survey finds 80% reluctant to eat the beef despite lifting of mad cow ban.
August 12 2006: 9:41 AM EDT
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.
