LET THE CONSUMERS DECIDE IN BEEF SAGA (From Warrington Guardian)

LET THE CONSUMERS DECIDE IN BEEF SAGA

THE beef on the bone saga looks set to run until the summer at least.

This dragging out of a ban, unpopular with producers and consumers alike, will do nothing for morale in the industry nor the image of British beef, which after nearly three years in the wilderness is on the verge of being exported again.

The whole agricultural sector has been hit hard enough without the continuance of this unnecessary and unwanted measure.

Agriculture minister Nick Brown announced in February that it would be at least another six months before there would be any prospect of people being allowed to tuck into T-bone steaks and beef ribs once again.

Farmers have understandably criticised the decision, pointing out that not only is there still no proven scientific link between BSE and CJD, but that the independent scientific body set up to advise the government on BSE had quoted the chances of possible infection from boned beef being lower than those of winning the National Lottery jackpot three times in a row!

Food scares are a fact of life and almost a weekly occurrence, yet few products are taken off the shelves, the public being left to make up their own minds.

While public safety remains paramount it is time to let consumers decide what they want.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.