Poll shows 2 out of 5 shoppers eat less beef

The Government has embarked on a highly expensive effort to assure international markets that beef from the Republic is BSE-free…

The Government has embarked on a highly expensive effort to assure international markets that beef from the Republic is BSE-free. A large proportion of consumers here, however, remain unconvinced despite an extremely low incidence of the disease in Irish cattle.

Almost two out of five shoppers here have reduced their consumption of beef and beef products because of the BSE problem. Just over half are dissatisfied with the way the farming organisations are handling the BSE crisis and 45 per cent of people are not happy with how the Government is dealing with it. The latest Irish Times/MRBI opinion poll shows a sizeable minority of consumers are uneasy about the safety of Irish beef and are responding, as consumers will, by cutting back their purchases of beef and beef products.

This rump of dissatisfied shoppers sits right on the Government's doorstep even as the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mr Walsh, leads the concerted campaign to assure international buyers BSE is not an issue when it comes to the Irish product.

He said as much last November when announcing an enhanced BSE testing regime. "That, with all the other controls we have put in place, should mean that our beef is BSE-free." His assurances may seem a bit shrill in light of the poll findings, though his concerns about the threat to our export markets are real enough. The Government has fought hard to protect our beef exports, worth about £1.5 billion annually. No other country is quite as exposed to a cold shoulder from consumers when one considers that nine out of every 10 animals slaughtered here are destined for export.

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The Government, led by Mr Walsh's Department, introduced a range of measures to support the market and boost consumer confidence. It introduced feedstuff controls ahead of the EU, brought in a radical "slaughter-out" policy, which saw a farmer's entire herd culled if one BSE animal was found and announced supplementary testing.

The Government, none the less, was somewhat tardy in bringing in special testing for "fallen" animals which have included a relatively high number of infected animals. Yet it wholeheartedly embraced the EU's slaughter for destruction scheme despite misgivings by the farming organisations and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. More than 12,000 animals have been slaughtered and tested for BSE under this programme and all tests have been negative so far. This programme may see as many as 750,000 cattle over the age of 30 months slaughtered, costing the Exchequer at least £120 million, and most likely a lot more.

In addition to being a tradebalancing measure, it was meant to be the ultimate answer to the scourge of BSE, yet the poll suggests that too many consumers wait to be convinced.

The figures indicate that 38 per cent of consumers have reduced beef consumption as a result of BSE while 61 per cent have not changed their normal buying patterns. Not surprisingly, there is a strong urban-rural divide on the issue with 42 per cent of urban dwellers compared to 33 per cent of rural shoppers reducing consumption.

Some concern is seen, however, even at the farm gate. The poll showed that one in five farmers said BSE had caused them to reduce beef purchases. The highest level of concern was expressed by those polled in Co Dublin with almost half indicating a reduction in beef purchases. The rest of Leinster, Munster and Connacht/Ulster ranged around one in three consumers.

There is a spike in the figures for the highest socio-economic groupings, those with the greatest disposable income and the finances to make alternative purchases. About 46 per cent of these consumers had cut beef consumption compared to about 38 per cent for middle to lower income earners.

Concerns are also apparent among age groups with families. Some 42 per cent in the 35 to 49 age bracket and 41 per cent in the 50 to 64 age group admit to a reduced consumption of beef and beef products. Only 35 per cent of the 18-24 and 25-34 age groupings have reduced consumption because of the BSE problem.

There is, however, a surprising high level of support for the Government's actions on BSE considering the large fraction of consumers who have shied away from beef. Fifty-two per cent of respondents expressed satisfaction with the Government's handling of the BSE problem, and 45 per cent were dissatisfied.

There was no urban/rural divide on this issue, with both groups matching the 52 per cent satisfaction with Government rating. There was a strong political divide, however, with 60 per cent of Fianna Fail supporters satisfied but only 43 per cent of Fine Gael voters, 49 per cent of Labour and 50 per cent of PD voters.

The farming organisations did not fare nearly as well when those polled were asked about satisfaction levels with these bodies. Overall, 42 per cent of respondents were satisfied but a majority of 52 per cent were dissatisfied with the farming organisations' handling of the BSE problem.

The urban/rural separation was again clear with just 36 per cent of urban dwellers satisfied and 57 per cent dissatisfied compared to 50 per cent satisfied and 45 per cent dissatisfied of those living in the country. In socio-economic terms, just 38 per cent of the highest earners were satisfied and 56 per cent dissatisfied. Middle earners were 40 per cent satisfied compared with 53 per cent dissatisfied but 58 per cent of farmers were satisfied and 40 per cent dissatisfied.

By region the comparable figures for consumers satisfied with the farm organisations' response were Co Dublin, 39 per cent; rest of Leinster 40 per cent; Munster 42 per cent; and Connacht/Ulster 48 per cent. The levels of dissatisfaction with the farming bodies were Co Dublin 54 per cent; rest of Leinster 53 per cent; Munster 51 per cent; and Connacht /Ulster 50 per cent.