Almost half of Brits are apprehensive towards American beef with concerns over health and safety concerns emerging as primary barriers, reveals a recent survey,
The recent UK-US trade deal gave US farmers a quota of 13,000 metric tonnes for beef which meets UK standards, with UK farmers having the same quota for sales into the United States.
The recent trade deal was met with apprehension, with some farmers and consumers expressing fears that the deal could open the door to beef from cattle raised using hormones to boost their growth.
However, the government said certification procedures and border checks would ensure hormone-reared beef would not enter the UK.
According to the findings of a recent comprehensive nationwide survey by SPQR, which gathered opinions from 1,016 consumers across the UK, almost half of respondents (49 per cent) are not open at all to purchasing American-sourced beef, with an additional 11 per cent expressing hesitation about buying beef products from the US.
Health and safety concerns emerged as a primary barrier, with 43 per cent of UK respondents specifically citing worries about hormone and antibiotic use in American beef production.
This finding reflects ongoing UK consumer anxiety about differing agricultural standards between the two nations, particularly following post-Brexit trade negotiations that have kept food standards at the forefront of public discourse.
The research also revealed the strength of British brand loyalty in the meat sector, with 45 per cent of respondents stating their preference for British beef as a specific reason for avoiding American alternatives.
This represents a significant challenge for American exporters hoping to gain market share in the UK meat landscape.
The poll uncovered multiple negative perceptions about American beef.
Among respondents with an existing perception of American beef, 67 per cent believe it is "full of hormones." Almost one-third of the UK population thinks American beef is lower quality compared to British beef, with a quarter of respondents considering American beef unhealthy.
"These findings demonstrate the ongoing challenges facing American beef imports in the UK market," said Mike Coppen-Gardner, chief executive of SPQR.
"American beef exporters hoping to increase their UK market presence will need to address these perceptions directly through transparent communication about production standards and potentially adapting practices for export markets."
Meanwhile, supermarket Tesco last week confirmed that there are no plans to source American beef despite the recent UK-US trade deal.
Tesco’s CEO, Ken Murphy, explained why the major supermarket brand would not be using American beef.
"We source 100 per cent Irish and British beef in Tesco and for the foreseeable future that policy will be the same, we’re not planning to change it," Murphy said.
