Japanese families have been spending less on meat purchases, but eating slightly more beef at home, despite the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the country, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) said.

The average Japanese household spent JPY6,030 (US$65.06) on meat purchases in April, down 3.1% compared with the same time last year.

Per household beef expenditure has also been impacted by the slow economy, with average expenditure trending down year-on-year since December 2008. Beef purchase volumes, however, have exceeded the previous year for the last 12 months, with the latest April figure showing purchases averaging 565 grams per household (up 3.7% from 2009).

This indicates soft but steady demand for beef among Japanese families, despite the deflationary economy and subsequent decline in beef retail prices.

There has been no evidence that shoppers are turning away from beef due to the foot-and-mouth outbreak. Yet, the trade is carefully monitoring consumer reaction, as the government works around the clock to contain the further spread of the disease.