'A regulation's needed to protect consumers'<\/p>\n
The central government has reassured the public that there is
\nlittle chance of mad cow disease entering the country. Indonesia
\nimports only 4 percent of the meat it consumes, mostly from
\nAustralia and New Zealand. A single case of mad cow disease was
\nconfirmed in the United States on Dec. 23, based on samples taken
\non Dec. 9. A number of people The Jakarta Post spoke with believe
\nthe fuss over the disease reflects the lack of consumer
\nprotection measures here.<\/p>\n
Irene, 56, is a housewife. She lives with her husband and
\ndaughter in Cinere, South Jakarta:<\/p>\n
I read in the paper that the cow's brain is the most likely
\npart of the cow to be infected with mad cow disease. Well, I
\ndon't eat the brain and neither does my family because it can
\nincrease your bad cholesterol.<\/p>\n
I don't often buy imported meat. I prefer the fresher meat at
\ntraditional markets. So, mad cow disease doesn't worry me.<\/p>\n
But I understand why people panic over an issue like this
\nbecause the country doesn't have any controls on the distribution
\nof meat to ensure the safety of consumers.<\/p>\n
If I get meat that is less than fresh, all I can do is get mad
\nat the vendor, ask him to return my money and tell him I won't
\nbuy from him anymore. I wish there was a regulatory body with the
\npower to retract a vendor's right to sell meat.<\/p>\n
Rizky Theo, 34, works at a cargo service company. He lives
\nwith his wife and two children in East Bekasi:<\/p>\n
My wife usually asks the meat sellers where they get their
\nmeat from, just to make sure it's not imported. The vendors say
\nthe cattle is an Australian breed, but from local husbandry.<\/p>\n
But if the vendors lie, we would never live to find out.<\/p>\n
--The Jakarta Post<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/a-regulations-needed-to-protect-consumers-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }