Awkward restaurant question Aussies 'must' ask as American beef set to hit the market

Yahoo

2 days ago

Aussies are anticipating a major change that may see American beef potentially for sale in supermarkets and being served on plates in our cafes and restaurants.
Last week, the government announced it will lift decades-long import restrictions on US beef. As a result, consumers are now being urged to "be brave" and ask one question while dining out: "Where is the beef coming from?"
Everyone should make the inquiry when ordering a meal, one concerned Aussie suggested online this week.
"We've all got to get really brave about asking cafes, and restaurants, and fast-food places where the beef is coming from," the woman said in a video posted to TikTok. "That's where it's going to end up, where you can't easily check the label.
"Of course it's easy in the supermarket to check the label for Australian grown, but that's going to sneak in [in hospitality venues]," she said, admitting it will be an "awkward" question to ask, but absolutely necessary.
But those within the beef industry doubt the lifting of the ban will have much impact on consumer purchases and suggest US beef may be scarcely seen in Australian restaurants and supermarkets.
Dr Kate Sievert from Deakin University believes it may pop up in fast-food chains and prepackaged meals.
"It's more likely to be used in specific segments of the food system, so areas like food service, particularly in fast-food service or ultra-processed products like ready meals," she told The Guardian. "The US relies a lot more on confined animal feeding operations where it's cheaper to produce."
This doesn't necessarily mean US beef will outcompete Australian grown beef, as most niche or exclusive beef products produced by the US are already available in Australia, and the Australian market has more than enough supply from Australian farmers.
More than 99 per cent of the beef available in Australian hospitality venues and supermarkets are currently sourced from the country, according to Meat & Livestock Australia.
US beef unlikely to be a cheaper alternative for Australians, experts say
Consumer expert Gary Mortimer also told Yahoo News he doesn't see lifting the ban on US imports as a threat to Australia's beef producers.
"I genuinely don't believe that you will see restaurants and hospitality [venues] seeking to buy US beef over the domestic product," he said.
"I think by the time the US applies logistics costs to get the product from the US across into Australia, you're not going to see a cheaper product in restaurants or on supermarket shelves."
However, Mortimer said the idea of restaurant patrons questioning the source of beef is a sound approach.
"I would encourage patrons to ask that question. The same goes for seafood," he told Yahoo.
Regulations have recently been introduced to Australian consumer laws, meaning hospitality venues are required to state where seafood is sourced, and this has been suggested as a viable approach for beef after the decision sparked unrest among those in the cattle and livestock industry.
Australia's beef industry has been in the spotlight ever since Donald Trump singled it out on April 2, a day he coined "Liberation Day" and announced reciprocal tariffs for countries the US has a trade relationship with.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has denied the recent announcement about restrictions being lifted for US beef was made to appease Trump, and was part of a trade deal to keep tariffs on Australian exports into US low. The Coalition has pushed for a Senate Inquiry into the government's decision to allow US beef to be imported into Australia.
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Australian beef regarded as the best in the world
Australian beef is widely regarded as the best in the world due to its quality, safety and traceability. American expat Garrett, who currently resides in Shanghai, recently told Yahoo News he "trusts Australia more than America with the quality of beef".
"From what I understand, food quality standards and regulations in the US are comparatively lower, and the use of chemicals and additives in cattle feed and meat processing is a concern for me," he said. "Overall, I trust Australia's regulatory approach, which seems to prioritise quality and safety over profit."
Australia banned beef from the US in 2003 after the fatal disease bovine spongiform encephalopathy, commonly known as mad cow disease, was detected in American cattle. Despite the ban being lifted in 2019, restrictions still stood firm regarding beef that was sourced from Canada or Mexico, but slaughtered in the US and later exported out of the country.
After a decade-long biosecurity review by the government, it was announced that this produce would once again be permitted in Australia.
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