hankyoreh

The U.S. Department of Agriculture ordered the 64,350 tons of frozen beef produced by a California company since February 2006 to be recalled on February 17, representing the largest beef recall in the nation’s history. Images of the company’s slaughter of downer cattle were recently shown on the Internet, stirring a controversy. Downer cattle are animals that are too sick to stand up, and U.S. law prohibits such animals from being slaughtered and sold. Downer cattle are also more likely to become infected with salmonella, and are at a higher risk of contracting mad cow disease.

The problem is that this situation may have an effect on us. Korea is the third-largest importer of U.S. beef, though it has suspended imports temporarily. However, the United States has pressured Korea to open its beef market completely to make way for the ratification of the ROK-U.S. free trade agreement, meaning that U.S. beef could enter Korea at any time.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said that there had been no reported cases of illness among people who had eaten the beef processed by the California company. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in Seoul also stressed that there was no possibility of beef from the company having been imported by the nation, saying that the nation had suspended its imports since October. We still cannot feel relieved. This recent event makes us doubt the safety of U.S. beef once again. Inedible beef has been produced and sold in various markets and the U.S. authorities have no understanding of how much beef has been consumed or through which routes. Most of all, the U.S. food safety system did not do its job until the beef in question had already been distributed. Prior to pressuring Korea into ratifying the FTA, Washington should review its food safety system.

What’s more worrisome is the South Korean government’s negligence with regard to U.S. beef imports. Beef imported from the U.S. in October was found to have contained bone fragments, which are at a higher risk of carrying mad cow disease, but the administration of President Roh Moo-hyun did not urge the U.S. administration to explain the matter or investigate the circumstances. Andy Groseta, president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a beef advocacy group, will participate in President-elect Lee Myung-bak’s inaugural ceremony on February 25 as a member of the U.S. delegation. The incoming administration has decided to accept the delegation, even though it knows the reason why the U.S. beef point man will be participating. What’s worse, the Presidential Transition Committee has reportedly considered a plan to change the hygiene conditions for imports so that the nation will be able to import beef containing bone fragments. What on earth does the Korean government want to get by holding the nation’s health hostage?
Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]