Mexican authorities Monday seized 17 tons of US beef in the northwestern state of Sinaloa to guard its citizens against mad cow disease that erupted in the United States.  

The Agriculture Ministry said the beef was intercepted by El Carrizo check post on the Pacific coast. It was to go on sale in the central market of Los Mochis city in Sinaloa.

The cargo would be returned to the US, said the Sinaloa state government and the National Sanitary Service.

Last Tuesday's outbreak of the first mad cow case in the US caused widespread concerns in countries importing US beef. Mexico's Agriculture Ministry last week announced suspension of US beef importing.  

(Xinhua News Agency December 30, 2003)