Considering mad cow - beef consumers consider alternatives - Brief Article

Shopper Report, The, Jan, 2004 by Mona Doyle

Considering the mad cow scare, most consumers we've heard from are still playing wait and see. Some are making contingency plans, some are thinking about what to do next, some are very angry at the meat industry's resistance to wider testing and refusal to keep sick animals out of the meat supply. "The beef industry seems to be in denial. Their concern suggests that they are as crooked and greedy as the folks at Enron." Some are already doing things differently to minimize risk:

* Switching to organic

* Avoiding ground beef

* Looking for kosher butchers

* Looking for stores that will grind meat to order

* Shopping for their own at-home meat grinder

* Thinking about learning to fix lamb and pork

The Shopping Report[R] Copyright 2004, edited by Mona Doyle, is published 11 times a year by The Consumer Network, Inc., P.O. Box 42753, Philadelphia PA 19101. Phone (215) 235-2400 FAX: (215) 235-6967. The Consumer Network provides consulting and research services including focus groups, shopping partnerships, home visits, and mail and e-mail surveys.