UPDATE 1-US beef firms offer labeling for S. Korea
(Recasts, adds details, changes dateline to CHICAGO)
CHICAGO June 2 (Reuters) - The largest U.S. beef processors on Monday said they were offering to label boxes of U.S. beef going to South Korea with the age of the beef as a gesture to restart shipments of the beef to the once third largest importer of the meat.
Earlier on Monday, South Korean officials said they would delay the procedures needed to resume the import of U.S. beef, which was banned after a 2003 outbreak of mad cow disease in the United States.
Lately, thousands of South Koreans have protested that country's move to resume imports of U.S. beef.
"In response to the concerns of some South Korean consumers, several U.S. beef processors have offered to voluntarily implement a temporary labeling program to help ensure the reopening of the South Korea market and help rebuild the confidence of South Korean consumers in the safety of U.S. beef," the five U.S. beef processors said in a joint statement.
Thus far, Tyson Foods Inc (TSN.N) Inc, JBS Swift & Co, Cargill Meat Solutions Corp, National Beef Packing Co, and Smithfield Beef Group, Inc (SFD.N) said they are willing to place special labels on boxes of beef they ship to South Korea, the statement said.
The labels, which would be used for up to 120 days, would indicate whether the product is from cattle under 30 months, or from cattle 30 months of age and over.
"It would subsequently be left up to South Korean customers to decide which product they want to purchase," the statement said.
Most of the beef shipped by these U.S. processors is from cattle under 30 months of age.
"All of these companies take a wide range of preventive measures to ensure the safety of product produced from all cattle of any age. However, they have agreed to take this additional step as they recognize the sensitivities of their South Korean customers at this time," the statement said.
The labels can assure customers that they can choose, and purchase, the product they want.
"All of these U.S. processors have previously exported product to South Korea and stand ready to resume shipments to their South Korean customers under these terms. All U.S. beef processors may also offer product under the same conditions," it said. (Reporting by Bob Burgdorfer)
