The Dragon Wakes Up
Beef Producers have been worried about competition from Brazil and Australia but might have underestimated the sleeping dragon, now a force to be reckoned with. I’m Susan Allen and I’ll be back after the break on today’s American Rancher to explain. A friend and his wife recently told me they attempted to go a full day without using any products made in China, and couldn’t do it. Everything they touched, even fiesta ware dishes an American icon carried the ominous three words... "made in china." Beef producers who have feared competition from South America might have missed the mark according to a new report on BEEF.com. Apparently China is now claiming to be the world’s leading meat producer. Today nearly half of the world’s pork is from China. China’s meat production was up 6 percent from 2008 bringing it to 72.69 million tons. While it isn’t beef, it doesn’t take a man with a size nine cowboy hat to realize that would be Chinas goal as well. China’s Ministry of Health is working hard to rid their poor reputation regarding food safety. New national food safety standards went into effect June 1 and Chinese officials claim to building an “expert" team on food safety standards that will be subject to international organizations as per the World Trade Organization request. Watch out American beef producers and all of you consumers out there ...the dragon is rearing it’s head and the sanctity of US meat could be a target. I’m Susan Allen
