During a conference call with Iowa Farm Reporters, Grassley pledged to eat one pound of beef every week to help generate consumption of beef. He made a similar pledge during the low cattle prices of the 1990s.
"The United States has very good safeguards in place, as was evident in the identification of the cow in Washington State, but additional protection must be made to boost consumer confidence in the protection system. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has been very responsive in addressing the concerns brought forward by the BSE cow. Continued steps such as these will further strengthen our food supply."