It's all about choice. We don't want to push our beef from hormone-treated cattle to the exclusion of other quality products. But we do believe it should be one of the options on the grocery-store shelves. We are sensitive to the fact that the BSE scare looms in the European consciousness and has, quite naturally, heightened consumer anxiety about food safety. We understand that, even if the beef hormone ban were lifted tomorrow, our companies would have a significant marketing and public information challenge ahead of them.
American industry is prepared to meet that challenge.
All we're asking for is a fair chance to compete, a fair shot to get in the race. But with the ban in place, we are, unfairly and unjustifiably, out in the cold. And even as we remain steadfast in our belief that today's science has deemed beef hormones safe, we also recognize that science is ever-evolving. We are open to new information, as long as it's presented in a complete and accurate fashion, and as long as it is subject to the rigorous peer review of the scientific community. I hope that we do resolve the beef hormone dispute in a way that meets the most pressing concerns of both sides.