ID :
197117
Mon, 07/25/2011 - 18:22
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Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/197117
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Akita, 2 other prefectures to test all cattle for radiation
(Kyodo) - The Akita, Yamagata and Niigata prefectural governments said Monday they will test all beef cattle for radiation contamination after radioactive cesium above the allowable level set by the central government was detected in cattle in those prefectures.
''In a bid to secure food safety and protect the Yamagata beef brand, we will test all cattle planned to be shipped from the prefecture,'' Yamagata Gov. Mieko Yoshimura told a press conference. ''We will ship only those certified as containing less radioactive substances than the allowable limit or none at all.''
Yamagata will attach safety certificates to cattle which have passed the screening process.
Akita officials said they will prepare testing equipment to start tests Aug. 1 and allow cattle confirmed as safe to be shipped.
The Niigata prefectural government will release all test results on its website, Gov. Hirohiko Izumida said.
As prices may drop even for cattle which have tested safe to eat, Izumida said the Niigata government will seek compensation from Tokyo Electric Power Co., owner of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant that spewed out radiation after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami caused a series of explosions. That release of radioactive material has led to fear of radioactive contaminated beef making it to store shelves after scores of cattle were discovered to have been shipped to market after being fed radioactive contaminated straw.
Government efforts to determine the extent of the problem led in recent days to the discovery of contaminated beef cattle in the three prefectures which on Monday announced plans to begin testing all cattle shipped to market.
Two beef cattle, one each from Akita and Yamagata prefecture, tested positive for radioactive cesium, which they are believed to have ingested from contaminated rice straw produced in Miyagi Prefecture.
From Niigata, 111 beef cattle were found to have been shipped after they likely had been likely fed contaminated straw.
''In a bid to secure food safety and protect the Yamagata beef brand, we will test all cattle planned to be shipped from the prefecture,'' Yamagata Gov. Mieko Yoshimura told a press conference. ''We will ship only those certified as containing less radioactive substances than the allowable limit or none at all.''
Yamagata will attach safety certificates to cattle which have passed the screening process.
Akita officials said they will prepare testing equipment to start tests Aug. 1 and allow cattle confirmed as safe to be shipped.
The Niigata prefectural government will release all test results on its website, Gov. Hirohiko Izumida said.
As prices may drop even for cattle which have tested safe to eat, Izumida said the Niigata government will seek compensation from Tokyo Electric Power Co., owner of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant that spewed out radiation after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami caused a series of explosions. That release of radioactive material has led to fear of radioactive contaminated beef making it to store shelves after scores of cattle were discovered to have been shipped to market after being fed radioactive contaminated straw.
Government efforts to determine the extent of the problem led in recent days to the discovery of contaminated beef cattle in the three prefectures which on Monday announced plans to begin testing all cattle shipped to market.
Two beef cattle, one each from Akita and Yamagata prefecture, tested positive for radioactive cesium, which they are believed to have ingested from contaminated rice straw produced in Miyagi Prefecture.
From Niigata, 111 beef cattle were found to have been shipped after they likely had been likely fed contaminated straw.
