Education authorities in Bradford are right not to rush back to beef for school meals, even though Europe has now declared it safe enough to be exported. If they did, they would risk upsetting many parents who presently lack the confidence shown by Brussels officials.

It is difficult for men and women in the street to assess just how safe beef is. Part of that lack of certainty stems from the way, throughout the beef crisis, so-called experts have been unable to agree firm answers to some very worrying questions.

There is now every probability that British beef is much safer than it was. A great many precautions have been taken, on the farms and in the abattoirs, to eliminate the risk of BSE contamination. Apparently Brussels now believes that those precautions have had the desired effect. But a lifting off the ban is not going to dispel all doubts overnight, even at home.

The beef crisis happened because of mismanagement over cattle feed and was followed by a fair amount of misinformation about the potential risk. Given that background to the crisis, it is small wonder if the public remain sceptical.

Most of Britain's butchers and farmers don't deserve the misfortune which has befallen them. But their troubles are not over until public confidence has been restored, and that will happen only slowly.

For that reason the education authorities are taking a wise course of action by not rushing things and making sure that parents are fully consulted before beef goes back on the menu.

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