US Companies To Indicate Age On Beef For S. Korea

Several U.S. beef companies said Monday they will begin labeling shipments to South Korea to note how old slaughtered cattle were at the time of their death, responding to weekend protests over fears that U.S. beef imports carry a risk of mad cow disease.

Springdale-based Tyson Foods Inc., as well as Cargill Meat Solutions Corp., JBS Swift & Co., National Beef Packing Co. and Smithfield Beef Group Inc., said the labels would show whether the cattle were younger or older than 30 months when slaughtered. The companies said in a joint news release that it would be up to South Korean customers to decide whether to purchase the meat or not.