U.S. goes tit-for-tat with Japan on mad cow

[CHIMO]

Washington — The U.S. Senate has approved legislation that would keep Kobe beef off U.S. menus if Japan refuses to buy U.S. beef.

Senators want to retaliate against Japan, once a $1.5-billion-a-year customer of U.S. beef, for refusing to lift a mad-cow-related ban.

Senator Ben Nelson, a farm state Democrat, said two U.S. cases – compared with 20 in Japan – mean that mad-cow disease is statistically non-existent in the United States “in terms of the millions of heads of cattle that are sent to slaughter every year.”

Opponents of the provision on Kobe beef said trade decisions about food safety should be based on science, not on restrictions in Japan or other countries.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050922.wcoww0922/BNStory/International/

[Liberty Belle]

1. The Japanese test EVERY cow. I'd feel safer eating their meat.

Plus the US doesn't use the most sophisticated tests.

[Kagemusha]

4. Well there's a reason they test every cow. Past cases.

Rather than the US method of don't test, don't tell.

[CHIMO]

5. It's Called SSS

AR-News: How to manage beef???? "Shoot, shovel, shut up" Premier Ralph Klein

'Shoot, shovel, shut up'
Premier's words defended as 'ironic' -- not advice to break the law

Kelly Cryderman and Jim Farrell, Journal Staff Writers
Edmonton Journal - September 17, 2003

Premier Ralph Klein has suggested that any "self-respecting rancher" would have killed and buried the northern Alberta animal stricken with mad cow disease, instead of taking it to a slaughterhouse.

"It all came about through the discovery of a single, isolated case of mad cow disease in one Alberta cow on May 20," Klein told state governors and his fellow western premiers at the Western Governors' Association meeting Sunday in Big Sky, Montana.

"This was in northern Alberta, and the farmer was a -- I think he was a Louisiana fish-farmer -- who knew nothing about cattle ranching. And I guess any self-respecting rancher would have shot, shovelled and shut up, but he didn't do that. Instead he took it an abattoir and it was discovered after testing in both Winnipeg and the U.K. that this cow, this older cow, had mad cow disease."

In July, federal cabinet minister Ralph Goodale said the "unjustifiable" way trade partners have dealt with Canada due to its one case of mad cow disease will encourage other countries to "shoot, shovel and shut up" when dealing with infected animals.

http://lists.envirolink.org/pipermail/ar-news/Week-of-Mon-20030915/006637.html

[newscott]

2. My question for Senator Nelson is

Do you really think the USDA is inspecting all the meat it says it is? I for one think it's a miracle we've found any cases.

[pinniped]

3. Sounds pretty petty to me. Are there any adults running this country?

Hell, let's go all out.

Ban importation of all goods made in Japan. That will teach them to unload their sub-par electronics and cars on us.:eyes:

[VegasWolf]

6. Well, there goes sushi, it will now be Freedom Fish! nt

[arikara]

7. Why in the H-E-double hockeysticks

are they shipping cattle back and forth across the ocean to each other anyhow? That has to be one of the most wasteful ridiculous thing that I have ever heard. Japan selling their beef to the US... the US selling their beef to Japan. Insanity! Total insanity. No wonder the world is in the shape its in.

[Nihil]

10. Exactly!

> Japan selling their beef to the US... the US selling their beef to
> Japan. Insanity! Total insanity.

And there you have it - the reason why we are going to be SO f*cked when
the price of fuel escalates ...

[Art_from_Ark]

11. Kobe beef is the finest in the world

You more than likely won't find it on your grocer's shelf-- it is mostly offered in upscale restaurants. American beef imported into Japan, on the other hand, is affordable to the average Japanese and, in fact, was a staple at places like the lower end Yoshinoya restaurant chain. And Japanese beef production is not enough to satisfy domestic demand, even if the Kobe beef is included.

So, sell upscale beef to the US, and buy cheaper beef from the US. Four cows for the price of one. Sounds like a pretty good business model to me.

[arikara]

13. I'm sure there are many farmers in the US who are capable

of producing superior beef for upscale restaurants.

When you look at the ecological footprint of this type of business model it is no wonder the world is in the shape it is.

[Art_from_Ark]

14. Kobe beef production is very labor and capital intensive

It relies on family farms that have been involved in the production for generations. I doubt it is something that American corporate farmers could just jump into.

[NuttyFluffers]

8. aww, japanese beef is safer and (i think) tastier... this sucks...

:(

oh well, might as well get used to more tofurkey and gardenburgers now. it's gonna happen sooner or later, might as well start early.

*sigh* if only people were more consciencious for others then things like this would be prevented before it starts. don't feed cows funky bone meal, don't let any cow go untested, maintain quality and keep customer trust. there's a reason so many japanese companies have been kicking our ass in so many markets, customer consideration.

[psychopomp]

9. I wouldn't eat U.S. beef

and am happy that Japan is keeping it out!

[whatelseisnew]

12. organic beef sources

In the US:
http://www.localharvest.org/beef.jsp

In the UK:
http://www.wellhungmeat.com/buyonline.php
(note the name)

[JaneQPublic]

15. When discussing cows, shouldn't it be "teet for tat"? (nt)