'A regulation's needed to protect consumers'

The central government has reassured the public that there is little chance of mad cow disease entering the country. Indonesia imports only 4 percent of the meat it consumes, mostly from Australia and New Zealand. A single case of mad cow disease was confirmed in the United States on Dec. 23, based on samples taken on Dec. 9. A number of people The Jakarta Post spoke with believe the fuss over the disease reflects the lack of consumer protection measures here.

Irene, 56, is a housewife. She lives with her husband and daughter in Cinere, South Jakarta:

I read in the paper that the cow's brain is the most likely part of the cow to be infected with mad cow disease. Well, I don't eat the brain and neither does my family because it can increase your bad cholesterol.

I don't often buy imported meat. I prefer the fresher meat at traditional markets. So, mad cow disease doesn't worry me.

But I understand why people panic over an issue like this because the country doesn't have any controls on the distribution of meat to ensure the safety of consumers.

If I get meat that is less than fresh, all I can do is get mad at the vendor, ask him to return my money and tell him I won't buy from him anymore. I wish there was a regulatory body with the power to retract a vendor's right to sell meat.

Rizky Theo, 34, works at a cargo service company. He lives with his wife and two children in East Bekasi:

My wife usually asks the meat sellers where they get their meat from, just to make sure it's not imported. The vendors say the cattle is an Australian breed, but from local husbandry.

But if the vendors lie, we would never live to find out.

--The Jakarta Post