France Baffled by U.S. Decision to Suspend Imports of Meat Products

PARIS (AP) - France is trying to persuade the United States to reverse its suspension on imports of French meat and poultry products, including delicacies like foie gras, the agricultural minister said Wednesday.


<snip>

"It's a unilateral decision on the part of the United States," Gaymard told reporters at a French agriculture fair.

"Our reaction is obviously not to be happy," Gaymard said. "We can't understand this decision, because in Europe and in France we have the highest safety standards for exports in the world, and moreover, higher than the United States."

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGALD1NK3RD.html

It's childish BS.

...used the word 'Baffled' to describe their reaction to US policy with previous presidents? Because I've sure heard it used a lot to describe reaction to this Bush's policies.

I don't even remember hearing the word 'baffled' to describe Bush Sr's policies.

we have as a president. In the mean time I suggest we all drink more french wine and eat more french cheese in order to supporty a goverment that dared to have a mind of its own.

The geese used to produce fois gras are abused, actually.

(slightly serious post :-) )

agree on the abuse of geese...

but then,
what poultry is NOT abused?
they life tightly packed by the million and what not...

except those few happy chicken that may acutally go outside and dig up a little dirt and find a straw of grass..

It is ducks that are abused. I have seen them and it is horrible.

Our food supply is dodgy at best these days, and we criticize a country whose food supply is seemingly much safer..

Europeans still do a lot of daily shopping and preparing food from scratch each day.. I know that our "fast food" places have made some inroads in Europe, but overall, I think the Europeans are healthier than we are..

When my son went to college in Florence Italy, he was shocked to find out that their refrigerator was very small, and that people there shopped every day. Lucky for him and his roommates... I taught him how to cook.:)

Not that he was overweight, but he and all of his flatmates lost weight while they were there.. They bicycled everywhere, cooked their own fresh food, and did not watch tv much..They travelled to watch the actual soccer matches..

Our lifestyle HERE is what is killing us all..

When I lived in Europe. You get healthy--you can walk to get everything you need and you don't need a car. Healthcare is great and the attitude of balance of work and time off is priceless!

from the landlord, and when they came home they gave them to some kids they had met in the building..

He said they would go somewhere, lean the bikes against the wall, and when they came out, the bikes were still there...

When he was a kid, we gave up on buying bikes after 3 were stolen from our yard and porch...in broad daylight..

They loved taking the trains around Europe, and actually doing things instead of sitting around watching them, like people do here..

I was a bit afraid for him, since this was during the Bosnia & Kosovo wars, but they travelled all over.. Budapest & Vienna were his favorites.....well sort of.. He met some hockey players from Canada who had a villa on the French Riviera, and I think he spent a fair amount of time with them :evilgrin:

:

pretty please? :)

oh and, Miami was Fantastic! Thanks for the links...

Isn't Miami...dreamy?? I love that place.. My favorite thing was always to put the top down and just drive around late at night..

So where did you go?? I forgot to tell you about Silver Springs and the Seaquarium.. I always went there as a kid, and every time I go to Miami, I have to go back :)

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!! I copied it to my hard drive and will go put her in my setting!!!!!!!!!!!

from a Frech perspective

PARIS, Feb 25 (AFP) - France and the United States were locked in a food fight Wednesday as Washington slapped a suspension on imports of French cold cuts and foie gras after finding fault with French health safety measures.

The ban was announced here late Tuesday, the same day as the European Union said it was halting imports of poulty and eggs from the United States after an outbreak of highly contagious bird-flu in Texas.

<snip>

But some EU observers privately suspect that diplomatic factors may indeed have been involved. "Yes, there is very likely a political aspect," said a European diplomat who asked not to be named.

France challenged the US decision, describing it as "unjustified" but vowing to stay in contact with US authorities in order to get the suspension lifted as quickly as possible.

http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=58&story_id=5041

out of hatred for the French, and this guy is 'baffled'?

Everyone else is banning evryone else's chickens..Or is it our mad cows?

The article may be gone now. It was at the Budapest Sun, which doesn't allow direct linking to an article anyway.

Excerpts:
2/1/04 U.S. Bans Hungarian Meat.
The United States has banned imports of Hungarian meat following a report issued by US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

The ban came into force on Tuesday, January 13 when the FSIS report revealed that, following an investigation, two Hungarian slaughterhouses and processing facilities had failed to meet strict US hygiene standards.

2/16/04 U.S. Lacks Confidence.
The action to suspend Hungary is being taken because the FSIS lacks confidence in the ability of Hungary's inspection system to effectively oversee and enforce FSIS requirements. ..


I never did find out details.