U.S. welcomes Japan's easing of restrictions on U.S. beef

Finally!

I am quite happy to donate some of my US beef to the mad cows over here.

Why doesn't Japan insist that every animal to be slaughtered and exported to Japanese consumers be tested first for BSE? The test can be done in the slaughterhouse for negligible added cost, and any animals testing positive can be kept out of the food supply. There is no scientific reason for failing to do this, just the fear of industry and government that corporate profits and trade will be disrupted if Mad Cow disease is found in any of the cattle. Human health should be more important!

Thank Gawd almighty! Sorry folks me no eat Aussie beef, and J beef oishi but way too expensive!!

@jim

that's because the USDA forbids individual slaughterhouses from doing just that: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2012/0425/Mad-cow-US-confident-beef-is-safe-food-safety-experts-aren-t-sure

And yet even more cozying up to the US.

No buying American beef. Don't trust them at all. That said, occasionally I buy a bit of Aussie beef, which has a different taste that I like better.

How many percent of the ban is political and how many percent is scientific? Think very scientifically. It's time Japan figure out where it's heading when joining communist wagon of anti-Americanism.

Great, we can buy it at $50 a kilo instead of $100 a kilo for JP beef-(80% fat)

Not for me..If Russia & China and hundreds of the other contries have stopped the importation of US beef because of banned chemicals, there's no way it will be on my families plate!

Sorry but Aussie beef hot dogs at Costco don't cut it. Hope they bring back the American beef hot dogs they used to sell. Much bigger and tastier. They were called Bryan I believe.

I still wouldn't touch US beef let alone feed it to my family. I imagine many Japanese will feel the same. This is a bad move by Japan - seems like a nice sweet deal by the new administration with the US.

The kind of thing you'd expect from the LDP - if it makes a profit, fine. Never mind the health of the population.

badmigraine, you are talking about beef in general or US beef in particular? Your writing skill made it sounds like those vices are owned exclusively by US beef. Don't forget Japan had its own mad cow cases..

Good grief can't we get over the BSE scaremongering yet? It's not like it ever turned into a significant health problem even in the UK where it was rampant in cows for years.

@japan_cynic The test for BSE is cheap and easy to do in the slaughterhouse. It will eliminate any BSE carcasses from entering the food chain. Why is it "scare mongering" to ask this be done to protect consumers? What's scary is that the beef industry has convinced governments not to do this test. Why not, if they've nothing to hide? As for health problems, research shows that CJD is in the population and misdiagnosed 100% of the time as Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia. And the latest thinking is that prions are the catalysts for most forms of dementia, not just CJD. Fatal dementias are definitely a significant health problem everywhere that governments need to be concerned about.

Smith and Cleo, well said. Though Cleo, don't forget protection from the bogyman!

Well, now that we know American beef is safe, I can happily go out and get the prime stuff! Can't wait for the Summer! The inspectors and the Japanese beef agricultural center did their jobs right.

This is unlikely to have much of an effect on the general public. As Australian beef and it's upmarket cousin (NZ Beef) are both known to not use the highly controversial hormones and antibiotics used in US Beef production (Quote: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beef_hormone_controversy ) the savvy Japanese consumer is unlikely to want to go back. Time will tell.

@Jack

Sorry but Aussie beef hot dogs at Costco don't cut it. Hope they bring back the American beef hot dogs they used to sell. Much bigger and tastier. They were called Bryan I believe.

Yes, correct, I felt and tasted the same. They just didn't cut it. I always preferred farm raised USDA organic myself, but to generalize that US beef is unsafe is irresponsible to say and to generalize an entire industry. Japan did enough research and have proven and concluded that there is no need to have any fear and that US beef is safe for consumption. After 46 years, I'm still fine as are my family and friends. This is great news!

It is good news.

I am with Humanrights on this one: J beef just doesn't do it for me. It is too expensive and has much fat for my taste, even without the pad of butter. It makes me feel like I have been robbed twice: once on the price and again on the reduced amount of meat.

And no, there is no connection between the science and the politics.

Smithinjapan, it is a conspiracy. Really. No Really.

Great News - Aussie/Kiwi Beef is just tasteless and although I do love Japanese Beef, its not that great for 'a steak on a plate'. My favorite little Steakhouse has a had a regular supply of US beef for a while and its very tasty.

Never hear of Kiwi beef, but all I know is that Aussie beef stinks, I hate the smell of that beef, I can not put my finger on it but gawd almighty it just stinks and Japanese beef is way over priced so they can take a jump in the lake too, and Costco?? Never had the bad luck of trying those Aussie beef hotdogs, but just to be fair, MC Donalds Japan seems to be using only AUSSIE beef for their burgers and they do not seem to be too dry nor stink, how do they do it??

This really isn't that earth-shaking. As the number of months since the last case of mad cow disease increases, the restrictions on how young the beef must be will ease. Japan's just making sure that any beef imported from the U.S. wasn't conceived while the infected cow was around. Assuming no new cases appear, I imagine the age restrictions will completely disappear once the lifespan of cattle has been reached since the last reported case.

The resident,

Great News - Aussie/Kiwi Beef is just tasteless and although I do love Japanese Beef, its not that great for 'a steak on a plate'. My favorite little Steakhouse has a had a regular supply of US beef for a while and its very tasty.

Got laugh at that comment. I guess it just comes down to taste. For me US steak is disgusting, fatty, meat, Japanese beef is to fatty and not well flavoured, can't go past Aussie steak if it is cooked properly the problem is most people cook it wrong. Over cooking it...... And those that are complaining about meat from Costco, who in their right mind would buy meat from Costco in the first place. The meat at Costco is over priced for the quality that you get.

Let the market decide! If they don't want it, then they don't want it. Don't be afraid of competition.

Let the market decide! If they don't want it, then they don't want it. Don't be afraid of competition.

That's the beauty of free market, you have a choice.

Give me British beef any day over American please

British Beef for Roasting. American Beef for Steak. Japanese Beef for Shabu Shabu. Aussie Beef for McDonalds! :) Sounds about right - Best of all worlds. :)

i would rather eat US beef any day...

Give me British beef any day over American please

Isn't it full of BSE too? Gotta admit I'm partial to an English sausage but!

I want meat free from growth hormones and most US beef is full of it,

Now I do have to say as an American, I've had British Roasts, pretty good, but I don't like it for BBQing. Japanese meat is not so bad, as long as its not fatty, I don't want ANY fat on my meat, good God. But see, as Burakumin was stereotyping. That all British meat has BSE, that's how these rumors and urban legends start. I can attest since that outbreak Britain made some major changes to ensure the safety and quality of their meats, the same as the US has done. I have no doubt you will see in the near future British roasts in the supermarket. Yes, growing up with American beef is something I can't live without and I would never subject my family to anything that would harm them. But every now and then, if Japan sold British roasts, I'd buy it.

Never mind the health of the population.

Cleo -- nonsense. First off, not a single person in the U.S. has been a victim of mad cow, since, as you fully well know, it CANNOT be transferred to humans. Second, the Japanese population might just actually be healthier in the long run if there were more affordable sources of protein.

@bass

You're dead right with the 'fat on the meat' comment. My wife makes wonderful stews and curries, mostly with chicken rather than beef, but insists on leaving horrible gobby bits of fat and skin on the meat, because 'That's the best part.'

No it isn't!!!

Not that many years ago there was the label switching being done in Japan, at the Japanese meat processing plant. Remember?

The imports and exports of meats is as good as the people doing the job.

How many Americans have contracted BSE again? None!

"I want meat free from growth hormones and most US beef is full of it"

Don't eat it then, no one's forcing you to eat it, go ahead and buy "growth hormone-free Australian or Japanese beef, if you can find it/afford it.

Amazing how virtually no Japanese ever have any hesitation about eating U.S. beef in the U.S...

@serrano

Yeah, i can eat it snd i can afford to eat every meal if i want. A criticism of something American even if valid is always thumbed down and has negative responses. I also ensure the meat i eat is not corn fed and milk does not contain growth hormones. Good idea to look up what it does to the animal, the meat and to humans.

Maybe the government will lift the ban on UK beef too? It'd be nice to get some affordable free range grass fed beef. Dont want to grow any extra knackers so I'll do my best to steer clear of the US product.

@swiss

Maybe the government will lift the ban on UK beef too? It'd be nice to get some affordable free range grass fed beef. Dont want to grow any extra knackers so I'll do my best to steer clear of the US product.

Amazing how people like this don't anything about American beef or ever had it but love to bash and rag on it for no apparent reason and so many of you are experts in American agriculture, if we went by some of your fears or presumptions, we really would be eating some of the worst meat in Japan. As a father, I would never allow my family to eat anything that could potentially harm them. If you don't want to eat American beef, that's your lose, go and believe the hype, I choose not to having eaten meat in 38 countries, American beef still comes out on top. Remember, we too, have organic, grass fed cows, which actually most of them are. try it before you knock it.

@bass4funk

Most cows in the US are fed corn and growth hormones, a small amount now is free range and/or organic. I doubt that much US beef that would be sold in Japan would be organic or grass fed. Don't know about others but for me food safety has no boundaries, i am not knocking the taste of the product but the rearing and feeding. Most US cows are fed on corn which can causes major health problems for them.

US Beef is a big industry controlled by the few. (Cargill, JBS USA etc) These big beef processors did not want to give up any control to the smaller beef processors that were absolutely willing to test for BSE to satisfy the Japanese populace. =politically they went to the

-this is what a feed lot looks like and it is about 1 mile x 1 mile (the largest one I know of)

I would buy organic beef or find someone local. This is not a good sign in Japan. First the open inflation, and now this. It will be up to the Japanese populace to decide and you have the choice of not supporting this by not buying. I like supporting the little guy and going local if possible.

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=35.983597,-102.614322&spn=0.026878,0.044074&t=h&z=15

Remember, we too, have organic, grass fed cows, which actually most of them are

Some maybe, certainly not most, and most definitely not the stuff that gets sent to Japan. The main selling point in japan for US beef is that it's cheaper than either Jbeef or Aussie beef. The cheap stuff is from corn-fed, growth-hormone and antibiotic-laced animals raised in feed lots.

Bass4funk, "Amazing how people like this don't anything about American beef or ever had it but love to bash and rag on it for no apparent reason and so many of you are experts in American agriculture."

You speak too quickly, you don't know what I'm like or what I've tried. I have tried it and looked at the farming process. Not a lot is free range, grass fed and drug free. No need to be touchy, I don't reject it because it's American, just because it's generally not well raised. I'd happily tuck in to US beef not intensively farmed and shot full of drugs but that's not what was shipped to Japan in the past. There's been no evidence to suggest things have changed so testicular concerns remain.

@cleo @betray

Some maybe, certainly not most, and most definitely not the stuff that gets sent to Japan. The main selling point in japan for US beef is that it's cheaper than either Jbeef or Aussie beef. The cheap stuff is from corn-fed, growth-hormone and antibiotic-laced animals raised in feed lots.

Most cows in the US are fed corn and growth hormones, a small amount now is free range and/or organic. I doubt that much US beef that would be sold in Japan would be organic or grass fed. Don't know about others but for me food safety has no boundaries, i am not knocking the taste of the product but the rearing and feeding. Most US cows are fed on corn which can causes major health problems for them.

And your proof of that is..... If you are 110% certain of this and you can prove it, show it. You make it seem like as if the Japanese don't care at all about their people and would rather put profit before safety, that is absolutely ludicrous! We can't just go by you saying it could be, because now you are just making presumed accusations without proof or merit. Show a legalized form or documentation that what you say is true and we can go on from there. I don't care what you read on the Internet. I have friends that are raise cattle for consumption, I have seen what these cows eat, now remember, we also have a choice, so I can buy my meat where I want to, I want thick, lean, juicy American beef! In Japan, I don't want to fatty meat, sorry.

Bass4funk, the great EU - US beef hormone dispute has continued since the 1980s. To this day only a few tens of thousands of tons of certified hormone free beef can be imported in to Europe each year. It's a minuscule business because the US can't provide the drug free product. I assume that Japan doesn't agree that growth hormones can affect the development of children and increases the cancer risk in later life. If you think I've made that up I suggest you do a little of your own research.

@bas4funk

I rely on evidence rather than emotions. Japan also has growth hormones in some of the beef so it is no big deal. I am a person who makes a choice through evidence and US beef that is not certified organic is no no. The problem is not the people but the ignorance of the people and this is a worldwide problem.

Most NZ beef in grass fed, i.e the natural diet of bovines. It's much healthier than grain fed, has

better omega 3 to omega 6 ratios. The cattle each grass and planted vegetation such as rape. You need your head checked if you can't get over the slightly different taste. (p.s stupid smartphone site)

And your proof of that is.....

Look at the prices. No way cattle can be raised properly and naturally to produce beef as cheap as the US beef sold in Japan.

As for the grassfed beef sold in the US, take a look at this, from a producer that prides itself on the quality of its grassfed beef.....

http://www.grasslandbeef.com/Categories.bok

All of our beef products are 100% grass-fed and grass-finished. Recent popularity has created supply issues that we have resolved by working with a group of elite grass farmers on the Island of Tasmania off the coast of Australia.

Swiss

the great EU - US beef hormone dispute has continued since the 1980s. To this day only a few tens of thousands of tons of certified hormone free beef can be imported in to Europe each year. It's a minuscule business because the US can't provide the drug free product. I assume that Japan doesn't agree that growth hormones can affect the development of children and increases the cancer risk in later life. If you think I've made that up I suggest you do a little of your own research.

I did a long time ago. smoke and mirrors. Saying the great EU has a high standard is laughable. Like you said, this has been an empty handed witch hunt for years and the funny thing is, they don't have recent update that that's the case that the US uses wide spread growth hormones. I don't think you are making it up, but I do know that a lot of the past findings were false, politically motivated and greatly over exaggerated. You say the US can't provide the drug free product, the EU can't prove within the last 3 months that they do use growth hormones. If so, why don't they set up a world conference on live TV saying so? Again, as I grew up and my family, I would never give them ANYTHING that would or could harm them. I'm against anything artificial or won't touch anything that has hormones in it, good or otherwise. I remember growing up in Europe back in the late 70's we were the first on our block to purchase a microwave and I remember the neighbors looked at my parents with utter shock that they would even conceive of thinking about buying something that is so bad and ca cause cancer and that is so damaging to our health. Hmmmm, everyone has a microwave now. All this hype is much to do about nothing.

@betray

I rely on evidence rather than emotions. Japan also has growth hormones in some of the beef so it is no big deal. I am a person who makes a choice through evidence and US beef that is not certified organic is no no. The problem is not the people but the ignorance of the people and this is a worldwide problem.

And to a serious point, I can totally agree with that. I too, look for the certification every time.

Saying the great EU has a high standard is laughable.

I don't think anyone said it was a high standard. US beef cannot get through the low standard of 'no hormones, please'.

http://www.preventcancer.com/consumers/general/hormones_meat.htm

The only USDA-imposed requirement is that residue levels in meat must be less than one percent of the daily hormone production of children. This requirement is unenforceable because there is no USDA testing for hormone residues in meat. Furthermore, hormonal residues are not practically differentiable from natural hormones created by the cow's body. As a result, the use of hormones to boost meat production is completely unregulated.

@cleo

So now you are quoting an American organization that is a very controversial and extremely political. I did a story 11 years ago on Dr. Epstein, let me put it to you this way, the man has a tad bit of a credibility issue. So you putting up that link, qualms my suspicions completely. Nice try, but the man was debunked. So you eat what you like, but as I said before, I can't wait to eat a nice an lean juicy succulent steak with my kids.

Bass4funk, " Like you said, this has been an empty handed witch hunt for years.".

I didn't say that, you did. You wanted evidence, youve received some that contradicts your stand. I think it's time for you to provide some indication that the US cattle industry doesn't largely inject, feed or otherwise drug it's cattle with growth hormones.

No j- beef - very very fatty and ¥¥¥¥ No Aussie beef - no fat and a tAd bit stinky, thought i was eating lamb once when it was Aussie beef Yes US beef- nice price and not too fatty

@Swiss

I personally don't have evidence here in Japan, but when I was in the states working for NBC, I had a whole bunch of evidence, the other thing is that article and the organization I debunked years ago. I have seen the proof and I know for a fact through my investigative report that most of what you provided is over exaggerated and over politized. If you want to believe the hype and believe these bogus, overrated reports, then so be it. But I have seen the facts and I don't traffic in Internet gossip and hype.

Bass4funk, then all you have is hearsay and accusations. Bad form to challenge people to produce evidence when all you have is hysteria and arm waving. You won't convince anyone that way.

@swiss

then all you have is hearsay and accusations. Bad form to challenge people to produce evidence when all you have is hysteria and arm waving. You won't convince anyone that way.

My job is not to educate people that want and believe unproven ( vast majority of them ) accusations and bogus stats that uncovered years ago before this became a household issue. My job is not to guide the blind sheep, people can believe what they want, I know for a fact, did a story and seen the papers and reported on the findings at the time. There is a smear campaign out there, I already stated, much of it politically motivated and that's all there is to it, NOT my personal feelings, how I feel about this is not important. By the way, I'm not the one who is arm waving and in total hysteria, you guys that think that there is something wrong with American beef are showing signs of discomfort, discontent and are arm waving, I'm quite satisfied and content with these latest findings. I just think its funny how you think the Japanese are cold and heartless and don't care about their citizens. You didn't say it, but you and Cleo are basically saying that the Japanese agriculture committee doesn't care at all about its people's health, I think comments and accusatory thoughts like that are very insulting to a whole nation, you guys know all the facts, the Japanese AC is just ignorant and don't k ow what they are doing, so we should take your words and Cleo's as hard backed up evidence??? Give me a break. They did the right thing. Funny thing is, all my family and friends are big meat eaters, they look fine to me, my parents, neighbors, no one has come up with any strange mutations on their bodies again, debunked.

bass4funk, "My job is not to educate people that want and believe unproven ( vast majority of them ) accusations and bogus stats that uncovered years ago before this became a household issue. My job is not to guide the blind sheep"

Then why get involved? Why challenge people to provide evidence, why start name calling and putting words into people's mouths?

"There is a smear campaign out there, I already stated, much of it politically motivated and that's all there is to it, NOT my personal feelings, how I feel about this is not important."

You clearly do have strong feelings on the issue. Why else would you make unsubstantiated claims? You're entitled to your opinion but if you call people out on an issue, be prepared to defend your position. Unfortunately you've publicly failed to do that.

"By the way, I'm not the one who is arm waving and in total hysteria, you guys that think that there is something wrong with American beef are showing signs of discomfort, discontent and are arm waving, I'm quite satisfied and content with these latest findings".

What latest findings? Demonstrate them. If not then simply accept that all you have is an opinion and others have a different one.

"I just think its funny how you think the Japanese are cold and heartless and don't care about their citizens. You didn't say it, but you and Cleo are basically saying that the Japanese agriculture committee doesn't care at all about its people's health, I think comments and accusatory thoughts like that are very insulting to a whole nation, you guys know all the facts, the Japanese AC is just ignorant and don't k ow what they are doing, so we should take your words and Cleo's as hard backed up evidence??? Give me a break."

Mate you're rambling, no-one said the Japanese are heartless and don't care. This is the hysteria I'm talking about, at no point has anyone insulted the Japanese or even US agriculture. Youre putting words into other peoples mouths. I don't accept that, im perfectly capable of providing my own thoughts. What I've written is what I meant.

"debunked"

Debatable. You haven't presented anything in support of your position. Rather I expect by making false and insubstantiated claims your intent has backfired somewhat. I imagine you lost your audience as soon as you said you couldn't back up your claims.

Moving on, I look forward to the US demonstrating it no longer feeds any cattle growth hormones. In the meantime I'll ensure any US beef I come across comes with a certificate of purity. Of course I won't need to do that when I'm in Europe as hormone free beef is all they'll import.

@swiss

Then why get involved? Why challenge people to provide evidence, why start name calling and putting words into people's mouths?

I did not call people any names, the vitriol was purely and politically anti-Anerican in its tone, nothing more, not from me.

You clearly do have strong feelings on the issue. Why else would you make unsubstantiated claims? You're entitled to your opinion but if you call people out on an issue, be prepared to defend your position. Unfortunately you've publicly failed to do that.

As I said, I worked in the Television business and did a report on this very issue years ago. I'm very sorry at this point and time I personally don't any of my old paperwork and documents from back then, but if I kept everything from my days at NBC, I would have had to purchase a storage facility for all of it. The reports that you provided, if you want to believe them, that is your right, I was merely pointing out that the findings are bogus for a fact, because of what I said earlier. Whether you believe me or not is irrelevant. I'm just saying as a former journalist, the findings are over stretched. But they are NOT opinions, they were documented facts. Opinion is, I like the taste of American beef over Japanese or Aussie beef. .

What latest findings? Demonstrate them. If not then simply accept that all you have is an opinion and others have a different one.

As I said, I know the facts and I already explained what you think or how you believe is your right, if you choose to believe the net.

Mate you're rambling, no-one said the Japanese are heartless and don't care. This is the hysteria I'm talking about, at no point has anyone insulted the Japanese or even US agriculture. Youre putting words into other peoples mouths. I don't accept that, im perfectly capable of providing my own thoughts. What I've written is what I meant.

Buddy, no rambling here. Not putting words in anyone's mouth, but for some of you, it seems you want to overwhelmingly convince people that without a shadow of a doubt that US beef is unsafe and that the Japanese and US beef agriculture center has no clue as to what they are doing. This is the rhetoric with findings that you and cleo were passing off as complete factual unchallenged and completely unproven. No emotion here, just stating the obvious.

Debatable. You haven't presented anything in support of your position. Rather I expect by making false and insubstantiated claims your intent has backfired somewhat. I imagine you lost your audience as soon as you said you couldn't back up your claims.

As did you. You choose to believe bogus reports over the Japanese science research and agriculture dept. You can believe what you want, I didn't lose anything. Those that want to eat US quality beef can do so, if they want to eat other meats, also great to do so. I'm not looking for an audience. Don't know what you are talking about, but people have already made up there minds as well as Japan, US beef is back and it was a good decision. Whether you like that or not is completely irreverent. This is NOT about us. We have no say in it. But the Japanese know what they are doing.

Moving on, I look forward to the US demonstrating it no longer feeds any cattle growth hormones. In the meantime I'll ensure any US beef I come across comes with a certificate of purity. Of course I won't need to do that when I'm in Europe as hormone free beef is all they'll import.

And that's your choice and I respect that. I personally only eat eat prime US beef, I buy the best organic hormone free, not difficult to find and the meat that Japan will bring into the food chain is perfectly fine and if there will be ANY findings of growth hormones, the meat will be taken off the shelves and a ban will ensue. I'm perfectly ok with that, but as of now, calm your fears. If not, there is always chicken, pork, lamb and fish.

Readers, please stop bickering. Do not even address one another unless you are willing to be polite and tolerant of opposing views.

Those that want to eat US quality beef can do so

Not in Japan they can't. As I've pointed out before, US beef sells in Japan because it's cheap. There may well be wonderful, organic, high-quality, hormone-free, naturally-raised, grassfed beef available in the US, but what comes to Japan is the cheap stuff. In all my many years in Japan, I have never seen high-end US beef in the shops. The only certification it has is that it's 'US Beef'.

if they want to eat other meats, also great to do so.

There are other alternatives. :-)

@cleo

Well, that's not true, there are places where I have seen higher quality US beef. If you look, you can find it, it's not that difficult, but you have a right to your opinion and I respect that. Let us agree to disagree. The main thing is that the beef that is coming in being such now is safe and it passed all the recommend requirements.

I do not eat American beef unless I have too.. all franchises of course use this meat.. that is fed GMO corn.. corn is not what cows eat... organic range fed beef is like Kobe beef.. your kids will get fat.. have more sickness and soon only eat at McDonalds because they hate eating at home... it is good to BBQ and also eat organic Chicken and more fish.. and pig.. that is why people in Okinawa live so long..

" calm your fears. If not, there is always chicken, pork, lamb and fish."

Or of course I can choose premium Japanese grass fed beef.

I only feed my family food that has never had any history of being tainted, so we have a strict died of hay.

so we have a strict died of hay

That's only good if you don't have hay fever.

@swiss

Or of course I can choose premium Japanese grass fed beef.

And if that's what you like, go for it, I prefer the US, organic myself.

@kimo

all franchises of course use this meat.. that is fed GMO

Oh, really? And you know this 100%? Based on what?

corn.. corn is not what cows eat... organic range fed beef is like Kobe beef.. your kids will get fat.. have more sickness >and soon only eat at McDonalds because they hate eating at home...

Again, you are certain every child that eats Mc Donald's is fat or pudgy, if they hate eating at home, there must be a bigger problem in the household, I wouldn't just blame Mc Donald's which actually in Japan uses Aussie beef.

it is good to BBQ and also eat organic Chicken and more fish.. and pig.. that is why people in Okinawa live so long..

There are many reasons why Okinawans live a long time, veggies are one reason, low and less fat, steamed foods and also genetics, exercise, not so sure if the pork or chicken has anything to do with it, but I could be wrong on that point.

Bass4funk, "This is the rhetoric with findings that you and cleo were passing off as complete factual unchallenged and completely unproven".

This is the last time Im going to respond to you on this. The long standing EU ban on hormone fed beef is not rhetoric, it's a fact. The ban was imposed in the face of intense pressure from the farmers lobby, it was responding to consumer concern. Thats social democracy for you. In the US, fedlot kept, GM grain fed, hormone forced, unsustainable cattle farming continues unabated. In response to consumer concern the US has a growing, but still relatively small organic beef industry. Those are all facts, fully supportable with a little research. There's nothing anti American in any of that, simply facts that others may want to consider when buying food.

@swiss

The long standing EU ban on hormone fed beef is not rhetoric, it's a fact.

I never said it wasn't a fact. I said, I know for a fact the numbers are overflated.

The ban was imposed in the face of intense pressure from the farmers lobby, it was responding to consumer concern. Thats social democracy for you.

That's fine, but again, a lot of that is partisan political fear.

In the US, fedlot kept, GM grain fed, hormone forced, unsustainable cattle farming continues unabated. In response to consumer concern the US has a growing, but still relatively small organic beef industry.

That is not entirely true.

Those are all facts, fully supportable with a little research.

As I said, the attack on the US beef industry that Europe overwhelmingly supports is in a camp 5 to 1 prejudiced, the net not regulated, lots of unchallenged reports that are out more so than when I did a report on this a decade ago. I wouldnt quite say those are undisputed facts, But as you said, that's democracy, whether people want to believe the over hype, is irrelevant. People can do their own research, they may not be able to obtain the information that I received so easily, but with a lot of effort, they can find that a majority of these findings are overblown.

There's nothing anti American in any of that, simply facts that others may want to consider when buying food.

I grew up and spent half of my life in Europe. If you really believe that, then you might believe in flying cows ( pun intended ) as well. In the end, people choose what they want, I have no beef with that.

Apologies to those that have become bored with the constant back and forth but I have to come back one last time. Bass4funk, I refer you to your earlier statement, "And your proof of that is..... If you are 110% certain of this and you can prove it, show it."

If you believe the EU ban on US hormone fed beef is borne of prejudice, demonstrate it. If you think I'm prejudiced against US beef because of false information, show the truth. If you can't, simply telling me I don't know anything, that I think the Japanese are heartless and that I somehow think the US authorities are useless, none of which I've said by the way, simply demonstrates your belligerence. Only reasoned opinion and arguments drawn from fact will win respect, not bellicose statements plucked from the ether.

At least we can agree on one thing, "people choose what they want". And thank heavens they have a choice!

If you believe the EU ban on US hormone fed beef is borne of prejudice, demonstrate it. If you think I'm prejudiced against US beef because of false information, show the truth. If you can't, simply telling me I don't know anything, that I think the Japanese are heartless and that I somehow think the US authorities are useless, none of which I've said by the way, simply demonstrates your belligerence. Only reasoned opinion and arguments drawn from fact will win respect, not bellicose statements plucked from the ether.

It's not whether I believe it or not, I had already said if you read my earlier posts that a decade, I uncovered a lot of bogus, overinflated and contrive reports about the US beef industry that a lot of it was politically driven and that I NOW don't have in my personal possession. But I do know for a fact, regardless of what you or others might think, I have seen the documents, that's all that I was trying to say, nothing more. I never said, you don't know anything, the Internet is not a police regulated place where you can 100% verify facts all the time. It's not about wanting to gain or lose respect. Again, I am for choice and I am sorry, that I don't have these documents in on me ( if I did honestly, I probably wouldn't be able to have left my house with all the research and investigative reporting I used to do) all I can say is, that it was a lot of hard rock to do the story because it was so big at the time and I spent a lot of hours writing and shifting through a lot of material.

But yes, I do agree and must say, we can agree to disagree and understand which positions we stand on this issue and have the power to make healthy and free choices that suits our lives.