U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman took on the role of a marketing campaigner for U.S. beef and rice Thursday in meetings with housewives and consumer groups in Tokyo.
Veneman, in Japan for a two-day meeting in Nara of farm ministers from Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan and the United States, began the day by visiting a summer cooking school at an elementary school in Minato Ward.
Veneman chatted with students and their mothers, touting what she termed the safety of U.S.-beef -- the main ingredient at the cooking school.
Imports of U.S beef plunged after four cases of mad cow disease were discovered in Japan beginning in September, even though the disease, formally known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, affected only Japan-raised cows.
After her promotional appearance, Veneman met with members of three consumer groups to explain the workings of the U.S. food safety system.
Veneman, who has been appealing to the Japanese government to open up the country's rice market, later took part in a publicity campaign for U.S.-grown rice at JR Tokyo Station by purchasing a "bento" boxed lunch with rice from California.
