I wonder what the truth is ?
Japanese Snub U.S. Beef In Supermarkets
Tokyo (AP) - It's been weeks since Japan ditched its import ban on U.S. beef and the first shipment went on sale, but American beef is nowhere to be seen at supermarkets here - except this nation's five Costco stores.
Many Japanese are worried about the safety of U.S. beef. Retailers here say they aren't about to waste their time carrying an unpopular product. Instead, meat-section shelves are filled with beef from Australia and Japan.
Japan was once the top destination for U.S. beef, importing $1.4 billion worth a year. But that was before Tokyo's decision December 2003 to ban American beef imports after the first case of mad cow disease in the U.S.
The U.S. government repeatedly has said the beef is safe because of stringent checks. But such assurances have done little to allay the fears of Japanese about mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, a degenerative nerve disease in cattle.
"It's scary - all this talk about mad cow disease," said housewife Kimie Suzuki, who eats mostly fish but sticks with Japanese beef when she eats meat. "I've had foreign beef before but it tastes different."
Fears of Japanese like Suzuki have grown, not diminished, in recent months.
Kaori Watanabe, spokeswoman for Aeon Co., says the nation's top supermarket chain hasn't received a single call from customers asking for American beef. Aeon, which operates more than 300 food stores nationwide, is often deluged with requests for products, so that means there's no interest in American beef, she said.
"We decided against it until there's a situation in which customers can buy it without worrying about it," said Watanabe. Shoppers are more interested these days in organically grown vegetables, she added.
Ichiro Tanaka, spokesman for major supermarket chain Ito-Yokado Co., says he's happy selling Australian and Japanese beef since his stores, numbering some 180, stopped carrying American beef three years ago.
"American beef hasn't won the understanding of Japanese consumers," he said. "Consumers don't trust it."
Even Seiyu Ltd., the Japan unit of U.S. retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which runs more than 200 stores nationwide, isn't selling American beef.
A survey by Tokyo-based marketing researcher Intage earlier this month found that 54 percent of the respondents said they wouldn't buy American beef. A similar survey in December 2005 found 45.4 percent or respondents said they wouldn't buy U.S. beef.
Japanese tend to be suspicious about their own government, and some think the government caved into political pressures from Washington, Japan's No. 1 ally, to let in a possibly tainted product.
American beef at about $11.70 a pound is a fraction of the cost of Japanese beef, which can cost 10 times that, because of higher labor costs in Japan and the economies of scale at American farms.
Australian beef competes well in pricing against American beef at about the same prices. The Australian cattle industry has jumped right into the opportunity presented by the stumbling of U.S. beef exporters.
The industry is aggressively promoting the safety of Australian beef, noting that Australia has never had a case of mad cow. Australian cattle ranches have switched to feeding cows grain, instead of grass, to appeal to the Japanese palate for fat-laced meat.
Costco Wholesale Japan Inc., a unit of U.S. warehouse retailer Costco Wholesale Corp., is one exception in pushing American beef.
But Costco appeals to the well-traveled Japanese who buy in bulk - a minority for an island nation more accustomed to small homes and frequent shopping. Still, Costco's entire 5.1-ton first shipment of U.S. beef sold out within about 24 hours. Another batch went on sale a week later and is selling well, according to Costco.
"The response and demand for U.S. beef has been overwhelmingly strong," Costco Wholesale Vice President Mike Sinegal said. The other high-profile enthusiast for U.S. beef is fast-food chain Yoshinoya D&C Co., which made its fortune on the beef bowl, a serving of hot rice topped with slices of American beef.
When the chain announced it would serve its final beef bowl in 2004 because of the import ban, crowds rushed to its outlets to devour American beef. But even Yoshinoya has not yet started selling beef bowls, promising the dish for sometime next month.
The Japanese government has generally taken a hands-off approach, although it has organized meetings to answer consumer questions about the scrapping of the ban.
"It's not our job to promote American beef," said Health Ministry official Koji Obayashi. "It's OK if no one, buys U.S. beef."
Japanese Snub U.S. Beef In Supermarkets
Tokyo (AP) - It's been weeks since Japan ditched its import ban on U.S. beef and the first shipment went on sale, but American beef is nowhere to be seen at supermarkets here - except this nation's five Costco stores.
Many Japanese are worried about the safety of U.S. beef. Retailers here say they aren't about to waste their time carrying an unpopular product. Instead, meat-section shelves are filled with beef from Australia and Japan.
Japan was once the top destination for U.S. beef, importing $1.4 billion worth a year. But that was before Tokyo's decision December 2003 to ban American beef imports after the first case of mad cow disease in the U.S.
The U.S. government repeatedly has said the beef is safe because of stringent checks. But such assurances have done little to allay the fears of Japanese about mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, a degenerative nerve disease in cattle.
"It's scary - all this talk about mad cow disease," said housewife Kimie Suzuki, who eats mostly fish but sticks with Japanese beef when she eats meat. "I've had foreign beef before but it tastes different."
Fears of Japanese like Suzuki have grown, not diminished, in recent months.
Kaori Watanabe, spokeswoman for Aeon Co., says the nation's top supermarket chain hasn't received a single call from customers asking for American beef. Aeon, which operates more than 300 food stores nationwide, is often deluged with requests for products, so that means there's no interest in American beef, she said.
"We decided against it until there's a situation in which customers can buy it without worrying about it," said Watanabe. Shoppers are more interested these days in organically grown vegetables, she added.
Ichiro Tanaka, spokesman for major supermarket chain Ito-Yokado Co., says he's happy selling Australian and Japanese beef since his stores, numbering some 180, stopped carrying American beef three years ago.
"American beef hasn't won the understanding of Japanese consumers," he said. "Consumers don't trust it."
Even Seiyu Ltd., the Japan unit of U.S. retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which runs more than 200 stores nationwide, isn't selling American beef.
A survey by Tokyo-based marketing researcher Intage earlier this month found that 54 percent of the respondents said they wouldn't buy American beef. A similar survey in December 2005 found 45.4 percent or respondents said they wouldn't buy U.S. beef.
Japanese tend to be suspicious about their own government, and some think the government caved into political pressures from Washington, Japan's No. 1 ally, to let in a possibly tainted product.
American beef at about $11.70 a pound is a fraction of the cost of Japanese beef, which can cost 10 times that, because of higher labor costs in Japan and the economies of scale at American farms.
Australian beef competes well in pricing against American beef at about the same prices. The Australian cattle industry has jumped right into the opportunity presented by the stumbling of U.S. beef exporters.
The industry is aggressively promoting the safety of Australian beef, noting that Australia has never had a case of mad cow. Australian cattle ranches have switched to feeding cows grain, instead of grass, to appeal to the Japanese palate for fat-laced meat.
Costco Wholesale Japan Inc., a unit of U.S. warehouse retailer Costco Wholesale Corp., is one exception in pushing American beef.
But Costco appeals to the well-traveled Japanese who buy in bulk - a minority for an island nation more accustomed to small homes and frequent shopping. Still, Costco's entire 5.1-ton first shipment of U.S. beef sold out within about 24 hours. Another batch went on sale a week later and is selling well, according to Costco.
"The response and demand for U.S. beef has been overwhelmingly strong," Costco Wholesale Vice President Mike Sinegal said. The other high-profile enthusiast for U.S. beef is fast-food chain Yoshinoya D&C Co., which made its fortune on the beef bowl, a serving of hot rice topped with slices of American beef.
When the chain announced it would serve its final beef bowl in 2004 because of the import ban, crowds rushed to its outlets to devour American beef. But even Yoshinoya has not yet started selling beef bowls, promising the dish for sometime next month.
The Japanese government has generally taken a hands-off approach, although it has organized meetings to answer consumer questions about the scrapping of the ban.
"It's not our job to promote American beef," said Health Ministry official Koji Obayashi. "It's OK if no one, buys U.S. beef."
