Market News

Canadian Beef Bounces Back

Twenty-six months after news of the first case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in an Alberta cow hit the airwaves, Canadian consumption of beef has actually increased. Canadians eat 1% more beef today than they did in 2002, before the BSE case emerged. And in the 12 months following the May 20, 2003, announcement, consumption increased an amazing 5%. What's more, industry surveys show consumer confidence in our beef remains at pre-BSE levels of 88%. In the meantime, the States and Mexico have reopened their borders to Canadian beef and Statistics Canada figures show that, by 2004, meat exports were back to 75% of pre-2003 levels. Source: Canadian Grocer E-Newsletter, Sept.2nd.,2005.