'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