Bobby

Heading over to London in a couple of weeks and with all the Mad Cow stuff over the last few years, wonder if it is smart to eat beef in London?

[email protected]

Yes - now get a life!

xxx

Probably not, even if there were no mad cow scare, since I'd try to avoid British food, and most of the foreign food would probably not have much beef.

dan ramsay

Everyone in the UK is wondering what all the fuss over mad cows are all about and have not stopped eating meat. So if you want to do the 'When in Rome...' type thing, I think you should go for it.

napoleon

nothing wrong with british beef or british food <BR>for a country that gave the world Mcdonalds you americans are rather cheeky i feel <BR>

Ben Haines

Fodors <BR> <BR>Yes: I do, about weekly. <BR> <BR>Welcome to London, despite the discourtesy of hsg and napoleon. <BR> <BR>Ben Haines <BR> <BR>

bob

Why are the cows made and who made them that way... <BR> <BR>A little counseling should take care of that...

Love England

I wouldn't eat "food" from McDonalds in the US either. Love the land, history, people, towns of England, but would rather eat non-English food when there.

Chris

As a Londoner I would not eat beef in most alleged Steak Houses in London e.g. Aberdeen/Angus Steak Houses, but if you visit a quality restaurant in London you will probably eat very fine and certainly non toxic beef. Simpson's in the Strand, Rules etc. <BR>British/English cuisine of the top grade is very very good and if you are a serious carnivore I would recommend ST John's near Smithfield for the very best nose to tail eating. Very good bar meals as well if you're stuck for time. <BR>Enjoy the Centre of the Universe, but avoid Aberdeen/Angus steak houses, but eat Aberdeen Angus steaks. You'll see the difference in the price

kalena

Thanks Chris for the info. I'm curious what certification standards there are at the upper end restaurants and if you really know what you are eating. We had planned to avoid beef all together, but I am glad to hear that there is no hysteria as is reported. However, you do caution us about certain chains which would make me think that the concern is real.

yyy

If there is any risk why eat it?

xxx

YYY <BR>"If there is any risk - why eat it" <BR> <BR>Do you apply this to US beef also? <BR> <BR>I guess for the same reason you do anything else in life - pleasure and/or convenience.

Chris

My beef about Aberdeen/Angus Steak houses was more to do with the general culinary experience if you were a fan of beef. If you were going to avoid completely... well no problem. Most of the research has indicated that it is spinal tissue and the like in cheap burgers which might have caused the problem. Have a good time anyway!!

Patrick

Have you ever eaten chicken in the US? Have you ever eaten an apple or tomatoe imported from South America or Mexico? If so, I believe you were at a far greater risk statistically than eating beef in Britain. Last I knew a whole lot more people have died from eating tainted chickens and fruit in the US than from mad cow beef in Britain. The same is true of Jack-in-the-Box hamburgers and a myriad of other things. It is simply not an issue to worry about. Now stepping off a curb and looking the wrong way and getting killed by a bus or car--that's something to worry about. I understand a number of Americans are killed that way every year in London, but I have yet to hear of a single American tourist who has died from contacting mad cow disease in London.

Wrong?

I thought England destroyed all their cattle several years ago and started fresh? (Maybe with imported U.S. cattle?) If they aren't feeding their cows other animal parts, and aren't using any imported beef from other european countries, what's the worry in London? I WOULD be a bit worried about other european countries, though.

Pat

I spent a few weeks last year visiting friends in Ireland. It never even occurred to me not to order beef. My Irish friends certainly weren't limited by the scare. Indeed, one of their relatives a few years before was found to have an infected calf and the government destroyed his entire herd. I don't know that we'd be more careful than that in the US. Don't worry about it, if it's your time, it's your time.

steve

No one is believed to have contacted 'mad cow' from eating the meat part of cattle. It is believed to come from brain/spine parts. Therefore you should have nothing to fear from a steak or roast beef, but you might want to skip the hamburger or sausage which could be contaminated without you knowing.