Letter: No BSE from SAEs

From The Rev David F. Flavell

Sir: Why does the consumer have to stop eating beef just because the British farmer cannot provide a guaranteed BSE-free product?

This morning my local supermarket is charging pounds 3.90 a pound for steak. In America the price for the same product is only pounds 1.60 ($2.40). I would like to be able to buy this better value and BSE-free meat myself, but the Common Agricultural Policy will not let me.

No doubt American beef has its own contamination problems, but at those sort of prices I'm prepared to take my chances. At least I would like to have the choice. Can anybody give me one good reason why I should not?

Yours sincerely,

David F. Flavell

Peterlee,

Co Durham

19 December