Bovine spongiform encephalopathy crisis in Europe and its impact on beef consumption in Slovenia.

Abstract

The bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) crisis in Member States of the European Union adversely affected beef consumption in Slovenia in 1996. Although the disease has not been reported in Slovenia to date, the controversy about the link between BSE and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and scandals related to the illegal trade in beef in some countries have triggered doubts among consumers. Beef consumption in Slovenia was estimated using a beef supply model, consisting of the following variables: purchase and slaughter of cattle and import and export of beef. The model estimated that beef consumption fell by 16% in 1996 compared with consumption in 1995. Approximately half of the reduction was compensated by an increase in consumption of pork and poultry meat.