Major 'gyudon' restaurant chain Yoshinoya D&C Co. is so far the only food-related company that is clearly set to use U.S. beef now that it is allowed back in the country, according to a survey by the Consumers Union of Japan and Food Safety Citizens' Watch.</PARAGRAPH>
<PARAGRAPH>Of 21 companies in the food industry that responded to a questionnaire from the two consumer groups from mid to late July, seven said they will not use U.S. beef.</PARAGRAPH>
<PARAGRAPH>The survey results were released Saturday. U.S. beef was banned from import due to fears of mad cow disease.</PARAGRAPH>
<PARAGRAPH>Seven out of the eight companies which checked 'other' in the questionnaire said they do not plan to use U.S. beef 'for the time being.' These include supermarket chain Ito-Yokado Co., and restaurant chains Skylark Co. and Jonathan's Co.</PARAGRAPH>
<PARAGRAPH>Among companies that have no plan to use U.S. beef are McDonald's Holdings Co. –
and Zensho Co., which offers beef bowl dishes at its Sukiya and Nakau restaurants. Zensho has used Australian beef as a substitute for U.S. beef.
Five companies said they will use U.S. beef "depending on the circumstance."
Restaurant chain operator Anrakutei Co. said it will decide after seeing "consumer trends and the quality and price of the beef."
Yakinikuya Sakai Co. said it will use U.S. beef when the quantity and price become stable.
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