While the Japanese government has agreed to resume US beef imports conditional on favourable plant inspections, most Japanese consumers appear to disagree with the decision. A telephone survey of 1,965 randomly selected adults conducted by the Asahi newspaper ,June 24-25, revealed that 52% of respondents rejected reopening Japan’s market to US beef. A lowly 37% said they would accept but a significant 71% of those surveyed said they did not want to eat US beef even if imports resumed.
A recent Wall Street Journal article called Mad Cow II told of the Creekstone effort to circumvent the ridiculous governmental regulations and how the whole affair has been politicised not only by government but by scientists seeking funding for their pet projects as well.