'I've always been a fan of local beef; it's fresher'

'I've always been a fan of local beef; it's fresher'

The United States government officially confirmed its first case
of mad cow disease on Dec. 23, based on samples taken on Dec. 9.
Despite all the fuss about the outbreak of the disease, which is
also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), Jakartans
are unfazed. The Jakarta Post talked to a few people on their
meat preferences and how to deal with the issue.

Nancy, 26, works in a garment factory at Roxy Mas trade
center, Central Jakarta. She lives with her parents in Kebayoran
Baru, South Jakarta:

The last time I ate meat was at a New Year Eve's party held by
a friend of mine.

I haven't felt like buying meat ever since the mad cow issue
has begun to come up more and more.

We must be more careful in buying meat at supermarkets -- they
might have been in storage when the mad cow issue began to
surface.

It is safer to consume locally produced beef than imported
beef. Local meat is fresher and not infected with the disease.

I think the government should be more strict in checking
imported meats and to stop importing meat from countries whose
cows are already infected.

Mrs. Yusuf, 56, is a housewife and lives with her husband
and two children in Pulo Gebang, East Jakarta. Her family
consumes meat almost every day:

Actually, I'm not too worried or anxious about the reports of
mad-cow-infected beef. I've always been a fan of local beef
because it's a lot fresher than imported beef, so I never buy
imported meat.

Besides, imported meat is very expensive and can be double the
price of local meat. Why bother buying imported meat when we have
good local meat?

My family eats meat almost everyday ... we love meat, and the
children don't like fish.

If any meat could be infected with the virus, well, just stop
eating meat then. I still have stock of beef at home, but if I
have to buy meat again, I would get chicken. It's good to have
varied meals, anyway.

--The Jakarta Post