Buyers of U.S. beef keep importing after mad cow case

Packs of ground beef are seen in a crate at the Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market meat processing facility in RiversideBRUSSELS/CHICAGO (Reuters) – Major export markets for U.S. beef from Canada to Japan stayed open after the United States reported its first case of mad cow disease in six years amid assurances that rigorous surveillance had safeguarded the food system. U.S. live cattle futures were higher on Wednesday, but only recovered about half of what they lost on Tuesday when the market posted its biggest drop in seven months. U.S. authorities quickly told consumers and importers around the world there was no danger that meat from the infected California dairy cow would enter the food chain. …