06/28/07 Can't believe it

Sometimes events take place that defy diligence and common sense. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll be right back to tell you what I mean. I can't believe it! Just when everything seemed so positive to resume a good beef export market with South Korea, a mistake that sent the wrong beef shipment to that country has turned every thing around. Only two weeks ago, I told you how happy I was that U.S. beef exports to South Korea were scheduled to be increased and how proud I was of U.S. trade representatives and exporters for their perseverance for regaining that trade. Well, now I read that banned bone-in beef has ended up in the ports of South Korea. You know, the same thing happened when the U.S. was just reopening beef trade with Japan. A U.S. company sent an order of banned beef product to Japan and the lock out of U.S. beef was on again. This time two different U.S. companies shipped beef that was not allowed in the South Korea agreement. The beef had rib bones in it and it turns out the shipments were intended for U.S. domestic consumption and not export. It's not a food safety issue this is safe beef. When incidents like this happen each time the U.S. is reopening a lucrative foreign market the wild part of my brain thinks  sabotage. But what probably happened was poor attention to shipment paperwork or an honest mistake. Maybe we will find out since the National Cattlemen's Beef Association is asking the USDA to conduct a full investigation to see what has happened. I still can't believe it. I'm Jeff Keane. Western Livestock Reporter 6/6/07