April 2, 2012

Japanese authorities to ban serving raw beef liver

The Japanese health ministry will ban restaurants from serving raw beef liver as early as June, according to reports.

A Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry panel recommended the measure in a report after concluding it is difficult to sterilize the O-157 strain of enterohemorrhagic E. coli bacteria, which can cause fatal food poisoning, found in beef livers.

The ministry plans to impose the ban based on the Food Sanitation Law after canvassing opinions from the general public.

Under the planned ban, violators may face up to two years in prison, or a maximum fine of JPY2 million (US$24,100), sources said.