Authorities in Japan confirm the safety of imported Australian beef

07 June 2011

Tokyo (6 June 2011) - Meat & Livestock Australia Japan Regional Manager Melanie Brock confirmed with the Toyama Prefecture health authorities, that the authorities' test results have found no E. coli O157 contamination in Australian beef, in relation to the recent incident in the Prefecture.

The Toyama Prefecture health authorities have confirmed following a thorough inspection that imported Australian beef was not the source of an incident of E. coli on May 6 at a BBQ restaurant chain outlet in Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture, Japan. The authorities continue to investigate other food consumed by the affected customers.

Australian beef has long been recognised by the Japanese trade and consumers for its strong safety record.  Australian beef for export to Japan is processed under the veterinary supervision of the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service and is recognised internationally as being of a very high hygienic standard. Careful processing, quality management and process control principles are fundamental to Australian meat processing systems.

It was reported last week that a group of 36 people ate at one of the Gyukaku yakiniku restaurants on 6 May. Twenty people later reported symptoms consistent with E. coli contamination. REINS International, the company that operates the yakiniku chain, subsequently reported that the cause of the illness was E. coli O157.

Ends

Released by: Belinda Roseby, MLA media affairs manager 02 9463 9269

Media contact:
Melanie Brock MLA Regional Manager Japan +81 80 5671 7425 +61 403 541109

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