Friday, August 20, 1999 Published at 21:04 GMT 22:04 UK
French farmers bid to banish the Big Mac
Jose Bove, centre, with his lawyer, left, hands himself over to police on Thursday
Farmers in southern France have launched an anti-American food crusade in response to the US Government's decision to slap 100% duties on French products including Roquefort cheese, mustard, truffles and foie gras.
Farmers union leader Jose Bove is currently being held in custody in Montpellier after an attack on a restaurant construction site.
Four other farmers have been released on bail of 105,000 francs each after the incident in the town of Millau in the Aveyron region a week ago.
'Hit by trade war'
On Tuesday, farmers reportedly blocked access to a McDonald's restaurant in Cahors and handed out local produce to would-be customers. There have also been protests in Seine-Maritime, it is reported.
"We are directly hit by the trade war over the hormone-treated beef, we are victims of American blackmail," Alain Soulie, president of the milk and sheep producers' association, was quoted as saying.
'Victim of visibility'
And another famous US product has also been targeted. Cafe owners in the town of Rodez have reportedly boycotted Coca-Cola, while the mayor in Saint-Pierre-de-Trivisy, a small town in the Tarn district, is said to have imposed an anti-Coca-Cola "tax" on sales of the drink at a municipal aquatic park.
He said 90% of the ground beef used in the burgers was produced in France.
France hardest hit
He said: "Hormones in beef, the trade in Roquefort, foie gras and truffles doesn't concern us. Our only concern is to feed more than a million French people each day.''
Aveyron produces the Roquefort cheese and some of the foie gras and truffles that are on the US hit list. German and Danish pork, Italian tomatoes and Italian truffles are also affected.
France and Germany are reported to be hardest hit by the US tariffs, to the estimated extent of $28m each, followed by Italy ($21m) and Denmark ($15m).