Nov. 4, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information contact:

Crystal Albers, Assistant Director of Communications/Web Editor, at 816-383-5100 or calbers@angus.org

Fraudulent McDonald’s Rumor Circulating Again, NCBA Says

A false rumor about McDonald’s once again is circulating via e-mail and the Internet, according to the National Beef Cattlemen’s Association (NCBA). The rumor claims McDonald’s refuses to buy U.S. beef, and imports potentially unsafe beef from South America. The e-mail reportedly asks recipients to boycott McDonald’s.

NCBA reports it has received several questions about the e-mail, which has been circulating in various forms for at least seven years. The e-mail incorrectly claims to be from the Texas Cattle Feeders Association (TCFA). This is not true, however, TCFA notes.

“Texas Cattle Feeders Association is not connected in any way with the email you received,” TCFA reported in a statement. “No such message has ever been put out by our organization. Unfortunately, we do not know the identity or motive of the person or persons making this improper use of our name.”

The e-mail also reportedly represents David Forrest at Texas A&M University as the e-mail originator, however, this is also untrue.

More information about the e-rumor can be found at the following links:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/mcdbeef.asp

http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/f/foreignbeef.htm

According to NCBA, the genesis of the false e-rumor may have been an announcement by McDonald’s in 2002 that, due to competitive issues, it was going to pilot test imported lean trim product from Australia and New Zealand in about 400 of its U.S. stores. Most major quick-service chains use imported lean trim because, while there is a surplus of 50% lean trim in the United States, there is a shortage of 80%-90% lean trim. Imported lean beef is blended with trimmings from U.S. fed cattle to make beef patties for quick-service restaurant chains.

In regard to beef from South America, only Uruguay can export fresh beef to the United States. All other South American beef must be in cooked or canned form due to Foot and Mouth Disease concerns, and this form of beef isn’t used to make fast food hamburgers, according to NCBA.

The United States has traditionally been the largest customer for beef from Australia, New Zealand, Central America and Uruguay. Almost all of these imports are in the form of lean trim used either in quick-service hamburgers or case-ready frozen hamburger.

All plants that export beef to the United States are approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and must maintain the same (equivalent) Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) standards as U.S. packing plants. USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service reports regular audits of these facilities.

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