Asia Pacific | Japan's ruling party sending inspection team to U.S. beef faci...

Asia Pacific

Japan's ruling party sending inspection team to U.S. beef facilities
Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party said it is sending inspectors to U.S. beef facilities following reports from a senior agricultural official last week that downer cattle were slaughtered for human consumption at U.S. plants.

South Korea government to promote premium meat
The South Korean government said that it will help local livestock producers compete with cheap imports by designating 80 beef and pork brands as premium quality.

Australian beef output slips
Processors produced slightly less beef in 2005 than they did one year earlier.

Americas

Argentina sees beef bans expand due to FMD
More markets have banned Argentine beef on due to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in cattle, and Uruguay said it sent troops to its border with Argentina to disinfect vehicles and boost customs controls.

Europe

Aged Irish beef gets the chop
Twenty-year-old Irish beef which may have been making its way to the processed food industry has been impounded in Bulgaria, which is toughening up food safety standards under pressure from the European Union.

USA

Union takes new tack in organizing effort at pork-processing plant
Among the nearly 5,500 workers at the Smithfield plant who kill the hogs and cut them into hams, ribs and pork chops, there is a steady stream of complaints about bullying managers, the line speed and the many injuries to hands, arms and shoulders.

U.S.D.A. blasted for letting downer cattle reach consumers
U.S. beef inspectors have failed to fully comply with rules banning cattle that are unable to walk to safeguard consumers from mad cow disease, leading at least 29 such animals, including 20 high-risk "downers," to reach the food chain, according to a recent government audit report.

Asia Pacific

Japan's ruling party sending inspection team to U.S. beef facilities
Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party said it is sending inspectors to U.S. beef facilities following reports from a senior agricultural official last week that downer cattle were slaughtered for human consumption at U.S. plants.

South Korea government to promote premium meat
The South Korean government said that it will help local livestock producers compete with cheap imports by designating 80 beef and pork brands as premium quality.

Australian beef output slips
Processors produced slightly less beef in 2005 than they did one year earlier.

Americas

Argentina sees beef bans expand due to FMD
More markets have banned Argentine beef on due to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in cattle, and Uruguay said it sent troops to its border with Argentina to disinfect vehicles and boost customs controls.

Europe

Aged Irish beef gets the chop
Twenty-year-old Irish beef which may have been making its way to the processed food industry has been impounded in Bulgaria, which is toughening up food safety standards under pressure from the European Union.

USA

Union takes new tack in organizing effort at pork-processing plant
Among the nearly 5,500 workers at the Smithfield plant who kill the hogs and cut them into hams, ribs and pork chops, there is a steady stream of complaints about bullying managers, the line speed and the many injuries to hands, arms and shoulders.

U.S.D.A. blasted for letting downer cattle reach consumers
U.S. beef inspectors have failed to fully comply with rules banning cattle that are unable to walk to safeguard consumers from mad cow disease, leading at least 29 such animals, including 20 high-risk "downers," to reach the food chain, according to a recent government audit report.