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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Japan plans to ban Fukushima beef | Japan plans to ban Fukushima beef |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Japan's government is set to suspend all cattle shipments from Fukushima as concerns over radiation-tainted beef escalate. | Japan's government is set to suspend all cattle shipments from Fukushima as concerns over radiation-tainted beef escalate. |
| Senior Vice Health Minister, Kohei Otsuka, said beef from surrounding areas may also be affected. | Senior Vice Health Minister, Kohei Otsuka, said beef from surrounding areas may also be affected. |
| It comes after 136 cows were found to have consumed feed affected by radioactive caesium. | |
| This is the latest health scare connected to the Fukushima Daiichi power plant damaged by the earthquake. | This is the latest health scare connected to the Fukushima Daiichi power plant damaged by the earthquake. |
| "The most likely outcome is that we will ban beef shipments," said Goshi Hosono, the cabinet minister responsible for the nuclear cleanup. | "The most likely outcome is that we will ban beef shipments," said Goshi Hosono, the cabinet minister responsible for the nuclear cleanup. |
| "We have to ensure food safety." | "We have to ensure food safety." |
| Reaching consumers | Reaching consumers |
| Increasing numbers of cows have been found to have consumed rice straw containing high levels of radioactive caesium. | |
| The straw was harvested from rice paddies in Fukushima prefecture after a devastating earthquake and tsunami triggered a radiation leak at the local power plant. | The straw was harvested from rice paddies in Fukushima prefecture after a devastating earthquake and tsunami triggered a radiation leak at the local power plant. |
| Distributors across the country have bought meat from exposed cows and some of it could have already reached consumers. | Distributors across the country have bought meat from exposed cows and some of it could have already reached consumers. |
| A major supermarket chain Aeon said that hundreds of kilos of the beef has been sold at 14 of its stores in Tokyo and the surrounding areas. | A major supermarket chain Aeon said that hundreds of kilos of the beef has been sold at 14 of its stores in Tokyo and the surrounding areas. |
| The retailer said it would start to check beef shipments from all areas for contamination. | The retailer said it would start to check beef shipments from all areas for contamination. |
| Wider problem | Wider problem |
| The government has also acknowledged that the problem could be wider than just Fukushima. | The government has also acknowledged that the problem could be wider than just Fukushima. |
| The initial discovery of contaminated beef was traced back to farms near the Fukushima power plant, but more recent discoveries are from farms as far as 100km (70 miles) away. | |
| However, farm ministry officials said that consuming the beef a few times would not pose a health risk, despite radiation levels several times the national limit. | However, farm ministry officials said that consuming the beef a few times would not pose a health risk, despite radiation levels several times the national limit. |
| Shipments of certain vegetables from areas near the plant had already been halted due to high inflation levels. | Shipments of certain vegetables from areas near the plant had already been halted due to high inflation levels. |