Word: beefing
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...eating U.S. beef hazardous to one's health because of the hormones that most American ranchers give their cattle? The case for fear is flimsy, yet it has set off a rancorous and potentially costly trade battle between the U.S. and the European Community...
...when the E.C. banned imports of meat from animals treated with growth-inducing hormones. Since more than half the 35 million U.S. cattle sent to market each year receive at least a small amount of hormones, the ruling blocked European imports of $140 million worth of American beef. The Reagan Administration immediately struck back, imposing 100% tariffs on $100 million worth of West German hams, Italian tomatoes and other foods. Last week the E.C. said in effect that unless the dispute is resolved by the end of January, it will counter-retaliate with 100% tariffs on $100 million worth...
...officials insist the ban is nothing more than a regulation designed to protect the public health. They see the law as nondiscriminatory, since all nations exporting meat to Europe must meet the same requirement. Such major beef exporters as Argentina, Australia, Brazil and New Zealand have agreed to ship only hormone-free meat to the Community, even though they may agree with the U.S. that the restriction is too broad...
...feeding time before the animals reach the target weight of about 1,000 lbs., the hormone treatments (cost per implant: about $1) save the cattlemen approximately $20 per head, which can be the difference between profit and loss. Producers maintain that the hormones not only help keep U.S. beef prices down but also turn out the leaner meat preferred by consumers nowadays...
Many American beef growers maintain that European meat is more dangerous than the U.S. product. While conceding that some American feedlot operators have been cited for improperly administering approved hormones, the U.S. growers point out that the E.C. ban has fostered a thriving black market among European cattlemen in older, more dangerous compounds like DES. Some growers inject their herds with illicit drugs to cut costs. Last week a Belgian consumer magazine reported a survey of 500 butcher shops in which 25% of the hamburger samples tested contained DES and other illegal chemicals...