Most Japanese still worried about US beef - survey

TOKYO, Aug 12 (Reuters) Most Japanese are extremely reluctant to eat US beef, despite the ending of import bans imposed after outbreaks of mad cow disease in the United States, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported today.

Sales of US beef resumed in Japan this week after the lifting of the latest ban, imposed in January when Japanese inspectors found prohibited material in a shipment of veal.

Eighty percent of those surveyed by the newspaper said they were concerned about the safety of US beef.

Of 1,741 people quizzed for the survey last weekend, 45 per cent said they did not want to eat US beef and 43 per cent said they wanted to think about the issue before deciding.

Only ten per cent said they wanted to eat US beef, the Yomiuri reported.

Japan initially banned imports of US beef in December 2003, following the discovery of the first US case of mad cow disease.

A month after lifting the ban late last year, Japan cancelled US beef imports again, after spinal material was found in imported veal.

Experts believe mad cow disease can be passed to humans through infected meat.

A consumer group survey yesterday found that only one Japanese food firm out of 21 planned to use US beef.

Yoshinoya D&C Co. Ltd, famous for its beef noodles, had decided to use US beef, Food Safety Citizen Watch said. Five other firms said they might use US beef.

The survey was sent to 24 Japanese supermarkets and food industry firms.

REUTERS BDP RK0900