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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Japan plans to ban Fukushima beef | Japan plans to ban Fukushima beef |
| (about 2 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. | It comes after 136 cows were found to have consumed feed affected by radioactive caesium. |
| This is the latest health scare linked to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant damaged by the March earthquake. | This is the latest health scare linked to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant damaged by the March 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." |
| Increasing numbers of cows have been found to have consumed rice straw containing high levels of radioactive caesium. | 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 the devastating earthquake and tsunami knocked out critical cooling systems at the local nuclear plant leading to a meltdown. | The straw was harvested from rice paddies in Fukushima prefecture after the devastating earthquake and tsunami knocked out critical cooling systems at the local nuclear plant leading to a meltdown. |
| More than four months on, radioactive material continues to escape from the facility. | More than four months on, radioactive material continues to escape from the facility. |
| There have been no fatalities as a result of the crisis at Fukushima. However, more than 15,500 people died in the twin natural disaster and more than 5,000 are still missing. | There have been no fatalities as a result of the crisis at Fukushima. However, more than 15,500 people died in the twin natural disaster and more than 5,000 are still missing. |
| Reaching consumers | Reaching consumers |
| 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. |
| The 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 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. |
| 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. | 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 radiation levels. | |
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