Miyagi, Gunma, Iwate to test all beef cattle for radiation
Jul. 28, 2011
Miyagi, Gunma and Iwate prefectures will test all beef cattle raised there for radiation contamination, the local governments said Wednesday.
Miyagi Gov. Yoshihiro Murai told a press conference his government will screen meat from all cattle brought to the prefecture's two slaughterhouses from Aug. 1.
About 90 head of cattle go through the two slaughterhouses every day, and the prefecture will ship safe tested beef with a safety certificate.
In Miyagi, six head of cattle have been found to be contaminated with radioactive cesium exceeding the allowable level so far.
Gunma Prefecture said it will start the testing on July 31, with Gov. Masaaki Osawa telling a press conference, ''I will promote the safety of Gunma-produced beef. We will keep examining the meat until we can restore trust among consumers.''
Iwate Prefecture will start inspecting all beef cattle from early next month, local officials said. Meat from two more cows in the prefecture was found Wednesday to contain radioactive cesium above the maximum allowable level, bringing the total number of tainted cows in Iwate to four.
In this regard, the central government is considering requesting that these prefectures make a precise schedule for post-screening beef shipment by limiting head of cattle to be shipped and setting priority in accordance with their slaughtering and inspecting capacities, government sources said.
The envisioned request is intended to ensure that beef containing above-limit radioactive materials will not reach the market, the sources said.
The government will also study measures to compensate farmers for additional expenses such as extra feed needed for keeping cattle longer for the inspection and drops in prices of cattle long due for shipment, they added.
Scores of cattle have tested positive for radioactive cesium which is believed to have come from rice straw tainted by radioactive materials from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant crippled by the earthquake and tsunami in March.
(Distributed by Kyodo News on July 28, 2011)
Miyagi Gov. Yoshihiro Murai told a press conference his government will screen meat from all cattle brought to the prefecture's two slaughterhouses from Aug. 1.
About 90 head of cattle go through the two slaughterhouses every day, and the prefecture will ship safe tested beef with a safety certificate.
In Miyagi, six head of cattle have been found to be contaminated with radioactive cesium exceeding the allowable level so far.
Gunma Prefecture said it will start the testing on July 31, with Gov. Masaaki Osawa telling a press conference, ''I will promote the safety of Gunma-produced beef. We will keep examining the meat until we can restore trust among consumers.''
Iwate Prefecture will start inspecting all beef cattle from early next month, local officials said. Meat from two more cows in the prefecture was found Wednesday to contain radioactive cesium above the maximum allowable level, bringing the total number of tainted cows in Iwate to four.
In this regard, the central government is considering requesting that these prefectures make a precise schedule for post-screening beef shipment by limiting head of cattle to be shipped and setting priority in accordance with their slaughtering and inspecting capacities, government sources said.
The envisioned request is intended to ensure that beef containing above-limit radioactive materials will not reach the market, the sources said.
The government will also study measures to compensate farmers for additional expenses such as extra feed needed for keeping cattle longer for the inspection and drops in prices of cattle long due for shipment, they added.
Scores of cattle have tested positive for radioactive cesium which is believed to have come from rice straw tainted by radioactive materials from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant crippled by the earthquake and tsunami in March.
(Distributed by Kyodo News on July 28, 2011)
