Immediately after the export ban on British beef was lifted, BBC News Online users were asked - Is British beef safe?

BBC: Special Report

Beef processor IBP (nyse: IBP - news - people) says slowing sales of beef and tight supply conditions in livestock markets are hurting its sales.

FORBES: Focus On The Forbes 500s

That's the word from the Department of Agriculture a day after news about infected British beef triggered off an international scare.

CNN: USDA: American burgers still safe

It follows the news on Thursday that beef is being removed from school meals across Staffordshire as a precautionary measure amid the horsemeat scandal.

BBC: Worcestershire school meals tested for horsemeat

The news comes as meat samples are being tested across the UK and beef is being removed from some school menus as a precaution.

BBC: Horsemeat found in some school dinners

Another parallel which I put to the secretary of state at her news conference this morning is with John Gummer force feeding his daughter with beef burgers while insisting that British beef was safe.

BBC: Thursday 19 September

The EU Agriculture Commissioner has told BBC News Online he hopes there will be agreement to lift the ban on most British beef exports by Christmas.

BBC: Special Report

Within hours of the news, supermarkets around the country had begun to take oxtail, T-bone steak and beef ribs off their shelves.

ECONOMIST: Mad cows