Beef Recall hits Trade negotiations

The largest beef recall in the United States is affecting trade. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer said on Friday that the negotiations to ship the beef to Japan and Korea have suffered because of the beef disaster.

Earlier in 2003, the markets shut doors for U.S. beef over the fears of mad cow disease.

Schafer, while addressing meat packers and processors said the Westland/Hallmark Meat Co. recall announced earlier this week had already provoked diplomats to question why the U.S. can't produce safe meat.

"As people look for reasons to protect their own market places ... they say you can't even send us safe meat," he said. "Do we need to issue new regulations and things? Right now we're just not prepared to do that."

143 million pounds of beef were recalled by the USDA from the slaughterhouse in Chino after the U.S. Humane Society released undercover video that revealed slaughterhouse workers kicking and shoving sick and crippled cows and forcing them to stand with electric prods, forklifts and water hoses.

More than one-third of the meat was distributed to schools but the authorities insist the health threat is not too serious.

Debilitated cows are considered to have a higher risk of mad cow disease and are thus forbidden from the food supply.

Schafer said he does not intend to change any policies unless the results of investigation are out in the open.

A few years back, Japan had imposed restrictions on U.S. beef allowing only the meat of cows 20 months old or younger to be imported. South Korea had completely banned beef imports from the U.S. owing to concerns over diseases.