April 1, 2011
 

Japan requests for more beef testing

A cow slaughtered for beef near the tsunami-stricken nuclear plant was discovered to have radioactive contamination slightly higher than the legal limit so the Japan's health ministry decided to request for more tests.

Officials stressed that the meat was not ever put on the market. Contamination has already been found in vegetables and raw milk near the plant, which has been leaking radiation since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

Ministry spokesman, Taku Ohara, said the cesium was found in a cow slaughtered on March 15 and it was located at more than 40 miles (70 kilometres) from the plant. People within a 12-mile (20-kilometre) radius have been evacuated.

The cow had a total cesium level of 510 becquerels/kg. The limit is 500. A person could eat beef with that level of contamination for decades without getting sick.