March 30, 2004

Japanese Consumers Stay Away From Poultry Despite Strict Bird Flu Measures

Japanese consumers remain wary of eating poultry meat despite the strict measures imposed since the outbreak of bird flu in the country.

It is one of the toughest period the Japanese poultry industry is facing, although more than two months have passed since the country's first outbreak of bird flu in 79 years.

Food processor Ichirei, which deals mostly with chicken meat, says business has plunged although it refused to disclose figures.

Kenji Okada, Product Development Manager, Ichirei Co Ltd, said: "The company's been severely hit by poorer consumption of chicken. But we decided not to be negative about this. Rather, we'd do our best to be accepted by consumers."

At restaurants too, they were first affected by mad cow disease and now it is bird flu.

So they are paying great attention to what customers are actually ordering and eating.

Takako Nishida, Manager, Saryo Utatsu Kanazawa Restaurant, said: "Some customers didn't finish their chicken dish. So I had a consultation with our chef."

For the time being, this restaurant has decided not to serve any chicken dishes.

But it will continue to serve one of its signature dishes using duck as there have not been any reports yet that ducks were infected.

A survey conducted in March by the Japan Research Centre showed that 72 percent of people felt that bird flu is still a threat.

This is 5 points higher than a similar survey held in February.

Attendance at food fairs in Japan were also affected, including this one in which food related companies from 74 countries and regions took part in.

Nobuo Ogawa, Chief Organizer, FOODEX, said: "Chickens are banned partially from Thailand and China, but there are other countries who are eager to step in to take over as the next big exporter."

With the impact of avian flu hitting consumers so hard, demand for pork and even beef which was just a while ago avoided due to the mad cow disease in Japan, are now on the rise.