August 4, 2011

Japan's supermarkets intensify checks on contaminated beef

In response to the growing problem of radioactive contamination in beef, major Japanese supermarket chains have stepped up on inspection procedures.

Their aim is to reassure consumers as bans on cattle shipments widen. The source of the contamination appears to be straw tainted with radioactive cesium leaked from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

Seven & i Holdings Co. subsidiary Ito-Yokado Co. has asked domestic beef suppliers to check all cattle for radioactivity. Only meat that has passed inspection will be sold at stores from next Wednesday (Aug 10). Izumiya Co. has told its beef suppliers to do the same.

Life Corp. will spend about JPY10 million (US$126,000) to install radiation detectors at its beef-processing and distribution centres for the greater Tokyo area. It plans to begin random inspections of some domestic beef in September.

Last month, Aeon Co. began third-party testing of all domestic beef sold under its store brand.