Burger King Confirms Use of Beet From Older Cow

Burger King, which said in its Thursday’s apology letter to the Dong-A Ilbo that hamburger patties served in its American branches can be made of beef from cattle older than 30 months, also notified the same information on Burger King Korea’s Web site.

Burger King Korea said on its pop-up menu Friday, “Under the strict American Law, Burger King’s hamburger patties, which have been sold in the United States and mentioned in a Dong-A Ilbo column, are made of 100-percent pure meat from healthy cattle, regardless of age. Burger King America corrected it.”

“100-percent pure beef hamburgers served in American branches can be made of meat from cattle younger or older than 30 months,” read a media statement, which has been separately posted on Burger King Korea’s Web site.

“After the Dong-A Ilbo’s report, many people called us to ask whether it is true,” said a Burger King Korea official. “We told the truth to the customers and wrapped up the case by sending a letter of apology to the Dong-A Ilbo and making an official announcement.”

Meanwhile, in its editorial titled “Truth about Beef Scare Reveled,” the New Right National Coalition said, “Burger King has courageously made public that burgers served in its American branches can be made of beef from cattle aged more than 30 months. It was revealed to the entire world that some anti-American groups, which have been opposed to importing beef that Americans commonly eat, were lying and spreading groundless rumors about American beef.”

“Claiming that Americans do not eat beef from cattle more than 30 months old, those people instigated the people and publicized as if Korea was importing America’s waste. Jumping on the bandwagon, MBC and KBS intentionally caused not only a beef scare, but also a mad cow disease scare, forcing innocent people to participate in street candlelight rallies,” said the coalition. “Burger King’s recent admission that it uses meat from beef older than 30 months is a big blow divulging that the claims of the people who stir up anti-Americanism are groundless.”

swon@donga.com