Doubts about US beef

Shodanren, Japan's nationwide network of 44 consumers' groups has expressed doubts about the government's decision to resume US beef imports, according to NHK:

A representative of the National Liaison Committee of Consumer's Organizations, Toshiko Kanda, said it is too early to resume beef imports as the Japanese government has yet to fully explain to the public the findings of its inspection of US meat processing facilities.

Ms Kanda said that it will be difficult to regain Japanese consumers' trust in US beef.

She said that consumers cannot dispel concern that measures taken by the US side are not sufficient, and that the same problem that led to the re-imposition of the import ban may reoccur.

A June 22, 2006 statement from Shodanren concerning US beef imports can be found here, with Shodanren's concerns about the validity of the inspections, as well as risk communication and a demand for openness with regards to the information given to Japanese consumers.

For the record, older Shodanren statements and demands regarding beef safety and BSE can be found here, here, here, and here (in Japanese).

In 2003, a coalition of Japanese NGOs created Food Safety Citizens' Watch with a newsletter that also has updates about the BSE problem (in English).

BSE/Food Safety previous

(Photo: NHK)