Apparently, Beef from Cows Over 20 Months Old is Illegal in the United States

by Robert Koehler on June 11, 2008

in ROK-US Issues

OK, it’s a bit dated (June 1), but I’m just seeing it now.

VN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }

1 WangKon936 June 11, 2008 at 11:55 pm

Well… is it true? Or more PD Notebook-like misinformation?

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
2 ghost.yoon June 12, 2008 at 12:00 am

Asking a random American on the streets of Korea about the consumption laws of the US… Real journalistic prowess there…

It’s not true, the US meat industry slays cows that stops giving milk for ordinary consumption all the time. Those cows are usually over 30 months old too.

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
3 Ut videam June 12, 2008 at 12:14 am

Talking out her ass.

If stupidity were a crime under the Patriot Act, she’d be on a rendition flight right about now.

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
4 WangKon936 June 12, 2008 at 12:16 am

You mean they just asked ppl on the street? Not experts, farmers, or government officials? That’s scary, considering that most average ppl on the street don’t know shit.

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
5 tmc1233 June 12, 2008 at 12:39 am

She’s full of bull(pun intended). There is no such prohibition in the US. http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/08-1180.pdf

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
6 Mizar5 June 12, 2008 at 12:41 am

She’s in for some major embarrassment when she finds out the hard way that to trust the Korean media is to be misled.

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
7 Mizar5 June 12, 2008 at 12:52 am

The US did restrict IMPORTS from Canada to beef under 30 months, but I believe this restriction has since been lifted)

By the way, I’d like to see some of the other rumors rebuffed, such as the rumors that

1- No nations import US beef over 30 months old. (I believe this is only true of Japan and Hong Kong. As far as I know, all other nations accept OIC standards except Korea, Japan and Hong Kong)

2- the EU does not import US beef. (First-quarter beef exports to the EU exceeded last year’s first quarter by 263%, totaling 3,335 mt (7.3 million lbs.) valued at $20 million)

3- Incidents of CJ disease in the US are related to consumption of beef. (in fact there is a genetic cause in perhaps 10% of the cases, and no link to beef in the other cases)

4- Beef over 30 days is not permitted for sale to US schools.

5- Animal feed containing SMR parts are being fed to US cows.

What other crazy rumors are out there? Rumors that Mad Cow has entered the food supply? Rumors that Americans do not permit their pets to consume US beef over 30 months?

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
8 babotaengi June 12, 2008 at 12:54 am

What a dumbass. Did they ask her who her sources were?

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
9 WangKon936 June 12, 2008 at 1:35 am

Well, let’s not pile on her. I’d blame the journalists. If you really want to find justification for something you can always just look hard enough and you are likely to find it.

WMDs and Gulf War II will end up being history’s biggest example of this.

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
10 babotaengi June 12, 2008 at 1:51 am

“Better to keep your mouth closed and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.”

She deserves a mass pile-on. Why is she there blabbing to the media if she has no idea what she is talking about (and clearly believes a fantasy true)?

University educated too, no doubt. What a waste of money/education.

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
11 cm June 12, 2008 at 2:08 am

Kyung Hyang is one of the worst leftist nationalist papers in Korea.

Have a look at their write ups and prepare to laugh.

http://www.khan.co.kr/

Some of the funniest slogans come from this site. For instance this one article:

“아시아 선두에 선 촛불한국 야만시대 넘어 인간시대로”

http://news.khan.co.kr/kh_news.....ode=940707

The pride of Asia, the candle light Korea is turning itself from barbaric generation to civilized generation.

Yes indeed! Korea hwighting!

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
12 Max Watson June 12, 2008 at 2:26 am

Beef older than 20 months will give you a big gochu. It’s better than viagra!

I should be down there giving interviews.

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
13 Siddhartha June 12, 2008 at 4:50 am

#5
Which page to look for this?

She is probably coerced into this. If she is not showing up. she will be left out (황따)

Namuamitaba

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
14 Kim June 12, 2008 at 5:57 am

I just can’t believe she said that. That’s not true. lol

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
15 Brian June 12, 2008 at 6:36 am

Love the arbitrary capitalization of her name, too, lol. Guess the video has made the rounds, b/c her name pops up on all kinds of Korean sites.

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
16 SomeguyinKorea June 12, 2008 at 7:59 am

Forget the morons, the nationalists, and the conspiracy theorists, fact is that Korea has agreed to accept entrails and bones, which cannot be sold in the US because that is where prions are believed to be concentrated. That is cause for concern.

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
17 Sonagi June 12, 2008 at 8:05 am

fact is that Korea has agreed to accept entrails and bones, which cannot be sold in the US because that is where prions are believed to be concentrated.

You made that claim on another thread. So when I passed by rows of beef bones, tripe, livers, kidneys, tongues, and even hearts at the local Wal-mart yesterday, was that a mirage?

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
18 turbo June 12, 2008 at 8:31 am

Once again, ignorance proudly in the vangaurd. Here are some facts for our friend from New York.

30 month-old cattle is indeed consumed in the U.S. Stats for that beef going to Korea also interesting. (via BBC on 05 June 2008):

But according to statistics from the US beef industry, 18% of cattle slaughtered in the US for human consumption is above, in many cases well above, 30 months of age.

The meat from these animals, considered perfectly safe, is ground into beef for burgers and other such delights.

Americans, it seems, do not just eat 30-month-old cows, they eat them in vast quantities.

And according to Joe Schuele from the US National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, “research shows that before exports were stopped in 2003, less than 2% of the total beef we sent to South Korea came from cattle aged over 30 months”.

But, as it always seems to go, I’m few will let the facts spoil a perfectly good chance to engage in herd behavior.

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
19 adhaglin June 12, 2008 at 9:39 am

#16, korea has not agreed to accept anything that isn’t sold on a daily basis in every american supermarket or restaurant. it is literally the exact same meat americans eat every day.

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
20 babotaengi June 12, 2008 at 9:48 am

“Korea has agreed to accept entrails and bones, which cannot be sold in the US because that is where prions are believed to be concentrated.”

Prions are believed to be concentrated in all beef bones huh, Dr. McGoo? T-Bones are off the menu in the US of A then? Damn, I feel for you guys.

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
21 Ut videam June 12, 2008 at 9:49 am

Re #16:

Repeating an erroneous statement of fact that has been shown to be false… cheating at paintball, as a commenter on another thread so aptly put it.

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
22 SomeguyinKorea June 12, 2008 at 10:47 am

#21,

It’s not erroneous. Parts that are believed to carry BSE causing prions are not excluded from the accord.

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
23 SomeguyinKorea June 12, 2008 at 10:53 am

“And according to Joe Schuele from the US National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, “research shows that before exports were stopped in 2003, less than 2% of the total beef we sent to South Korea came from cattle aged over 30 months”.

Yes, but remember, beef is not just meat. They used to sell an awful lot of ox tail, if I remember correctly.

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
24 Robert Koehler June 12, 2008 at 10:59 am

Actually, listening to it again, I wonder if perhaps a) the Kyunghyang mistranslated her, and b) whether she understands the 30 months issue. I think Ms. Wilder is saying that 20-month-old beef may not be sold in the United States, where as the Kyunghyang translation says 20-month-old cows. Truth be told, I’m not sure what Ms. Wilder means to say exactly, so I can’t say for sure that it’s a mistranslation.

UA:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
25 gimmeUSbeef or death June 12, 2008 at 11:00 am

I agree that sex with US beef under the age of 30 months is wrong, and should be prohibited.

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
26 Robert Koehler June 12, 2008 at 11:07 am

Fascist. If the beef consents, why should it be any business of ours? :)

UA:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
27 swlee June 12, 2008 at 11:32 am

I don’t think the age of the beef is the issue here. Clearly you are both trying to distance yourselves from the fact that such relations with US beef (which militarily occupies South Korea , and is responsible for dividing the peninsula in 1945)is an act of Korea exercising its post-colonial sovereignty.

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
28 Robert Koehler June 12, 2008 at 11:45 am

swlee: are you trying to give me a woody with all that “postcolonial” talk again:

http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/.....ent-160605

UA:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
29 swlee June 12, 2008 at 11:53 am

I gathered you would need a hand (ow) if the beef is over 30 months. I wouldn’t touch such beef with a barge pole.
yes, it is that big.

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
30 gbevers June 12, 2008 at 12:17 pm

Robert,

Do you agree or disagree with the woman? I am asking because I wonder how many Koreans might read the title of your post and assume you agree with her.

By the way, the following comment is among the comments posted under an article about comments made by US Aggriculture Secretary Ed Schafer on the safety of US beef and on how the Korean protests are politically motivated.

Someone with the ID of “ji9052875″ wrote:

긴급속보!!!!!!!!!소고기배후 조지부시미대통령!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!광우병실험하고자 한국에광우병소 투입!!!!!!!!!!한국인을 실험대상으로했다고 긴급보도함—-워싱턴포스트____|

Transalation: News Flash! US President George Bush, the man behind the beef, is sending cows infected with “mad cow” disease to Korea to experiment with the disease. The news flash said that Koreans have been used as subjects of an experiment. “Washington Post”

I have not checked to see if that was actually reported in the Washington Post. Does anyone else know?

Here is the link to the Korean article:

http://kr.news.yahoo.com/servi.....3%ED%B6%F5

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
31 gbevers June 12, 2008 at 12:21 pm

The above link is not working. Here it is again. LINK

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
32 The Goat June 12, 2008 at 1:08 pm

@22

“Parts” is nowhere near good enough to back up your claim. Would they happen to be any of the following?
“vertebrae of the tail the spinous and transverse processes of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, the median sacral crest and the wings of the sacrum…”

This clip reminds me of the Tonight Show or Late Night when they went out to the streets and asked (seemingly) random people simple questions. Hilarity (and disbelief) ensued.

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
33 adhaglin June 12, 2008 at 2:53 pm

someguyinkorea-

you’re right, certain SRM (i believe limited to certain bones and the intestines) from cows UNDER 30 months are included in the deal. of course, these parts are also sold openly in the u.s., and consumed daily by americans. they follow in perfect accordance with international health standards. i’ll repeat, again, in case you missed it the first time. the beef that koreans would get (under the original deal) is THE EXACT SAME beef that americans eat everyday. SRM from 30+ month old cows is not sold in the states, and in accordance with the previously agreed upon deal, would not be imported to korea.

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
34 SomeguyinKorea June 12, 2008 at 7:17 pm

#33,

Just saw that the accord excludes organs that are believed to carry prions. I guess I should have known better than to trust a certain group of reporters’ fact checking skills.

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
35 Sonagi June 12, 2008 at 7:58 pm

It’s not erroneous. Parts that are believed to carry BSE causing prions are not excluded from the accord.

Just saw that the accord excludes organs that are believed to carry prions. I guess I should have known better than to trust a certain group of reporters’ fact checking skills.

Not only that, you have claimed twice on this thread and another that bones and organs are not sold in the US:

Forget the morons, the nationalists, and the conspiracy theorists, fact is that Korea has agreed to accept entrails and bones, which cannot be sold in the US because that is where prions are believed to be concentrated.

That is udder bullshit (pun intended). One can buy bones, tripe, and tongue in any major US supermarket.

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
36 slim June 12, 2008 at 8:20 pm

@34/35 – Maybe prions and related brain-wasting matter are contracted directly from TV and newspapers.

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
37 korea February 19, 2009 at 10:26 am

Hello,

I am the idiot as some have referred to me in the video. I would like to apologize for the things I said in the video. At the time I was uninformed and I shouldn’t have been speaking on a subject without doing proper research. I found myself caught up in the moment and deeply regret what I said since after actually learning about it I realized how very wrong I was.

Thanks for listening!
Ms. Wilder

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
38 R. Elgin February 19, 2009 at 1:41 pm

If you really *are* Ms. Wilder, thank you for your commentary on this video. It’s okay to be wrong since everyone is wrong sometimes, its just that one wants to avoid being wrong, on camera and subsequently used by others for their own purposes. (Ouch)

Better luck next time!

UN:F [1.8.1_1037]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

Previous post:

Next post: