U.S. meat scarce in Japan shops (The Press-Enterprise) DISEASE FEARS: Weeks after the country lifts its import ban, where's the beef on store shelves? [News Source]

Mad cow still on the minds of Japanese beef buyers (Yakima Herald-Republic) TOKYO (AP) — It's been weeks since Japan ditched its import ban on U.S. beef and the first shipment went on sale, but American beef is nowhere to be seen at supermarkets here — except this nation's five Costco stores. [News Source]

Human Version Of ‘Mad Cow’ Disease Might Be Spread Via The Reuse Of Surgical Instruments, Study … (Science Daily) A study published today in the online edition of the Journal of the Royal Society Interface has been exploring the likelihood that vCJD might be spread via the reuse of surgical instruments, and calls for more data in order to allay fears over the possible transmission of vCJD. [News Source]

New Report Shows Decline In Dioxin In Some U.S. Meat And Poultry (Science Daily) Levels of dioxin-like compounds (DLCs) appear to have declined in chickens, hogs and turkeys produced for food in the United States, according to new tests conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. [News Source]

Customers wary of U.S. beef (Daily Yomiuri Online) U.S. beef has been slow in entering the Japanese market since the government lifted an import ban two weeks ago, apparently reflecting anxiety consumers still feel about its safety. [News Source]

Beef imported from U.S. scarce in Japan (AP via Yahoo! News) It's been weeks since Japan ditched its import ban on U.S. beef and the first shipment went on sale, but American beef is nowhere to be seen at supermarkets here — except this nation's five Costco stores. [News Source]

Wireless eartag tracks cattle’s health, location (Iowa Farmer) NORTH SALT LAKE, Utah (AP) -- As a third-generation livestock producer in Utah, Bret Smith knows all about checking cattle for disease and illness. [News Source]

Rebuilding trade with Japan could take years (Iowa Farmer) OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- U.S. beef producers are eager to resume trade with Japan and other nations because exports used to account for 10 percent of beef sales every year. [News Source]