NCBA Statement on Efforts that Would Erode Confidence in Beef Among U.S. Consumers; By: Jan Lyons, Kansas Cattle Producer and President National Cattlemen's Beef Association (May 20, 2004) "It is personally distressing to see an organization that says it represents cattlemen continue to make baseless attacks that serve only to erode confidence among U.S. consumers in the safety of the beef supply. Today's coverage in the Washington Post questions the safety of the beef raised not only in Canada, but by myself and nearly a million other American beef producers. This would not have happened without the misguided efforts of R-Calf-United Stockgrowers of America.

"What happened today was another leap to judgment without the facts - facts that USDA is working to reconcile and to which NCBA will hold them accountable. What we know at this time is that an administrative error occurred, not one of food safety. It is important we address this issue using sound science and not be driven by a political agenda. "For a cattlemen's organization to say USDA 'unnecessarily placed the U.S. cattle industry and consumers at risk' is reckless and a slap in the face to everyone in the cattle industry who has worked diligently over the past year to assure consumers our beef is safe. "Exactly one year ago today Canada discovered its first case of BSE. Canada responded by immediately setting the North American standard for the removal of specified risk materials. The Canadian beef safety system is virtually identical to the system we have in place in the U.S. Since Dec. 23, the United States, Canada and Mexico have worked together to harmonize the steps we take to protect consumers from any possible infection from BSE. "The hundreds of thousands of cattle producers represented by the nation's oldest and largest cattle industry association, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, are deeply disturbed by the press coverage questioning the safety of U.S. beef and Canadian beef. "I fail to understand the motives of a livestock organization that seeks to undermine the product it raises. For cattle producers, safety is our top priority. This is our livelihood."