Over 1,000 cows fed nuclear-contaminated feed
Japan: More than 1,000 beef cattle that ate feed contaminated with
radioactive cesium have been shipped all over Japan from Fukushima and
other prefectures, Kyodo news agency reported on Wednesday, adding to
anxiety after the world's worst nuclear crisis in 25 years.
The report comes a day after Tokyo ordered the suspension of all
shipments of beef cattle from Fukushima prefecture after discovering
that cattle fed rice straw contaminated with high levels of radioactive
cesium had been shipped nationwide
Japanese consumers have become increasingly worried about food safety
following cases of contaminated vegetables, tea, milk, seafood and water
due to radiation leaks at the tsunami-hit nuclear plant in Fukushima,
240 km (150 miles) north of Tokyo.
A total of 1,235 cattle that ate straw containing radioactive cesium
have been shipped from Fukushima and seven other prefectures to other
parts of Japan, Kyodo reported, up from the 500 reported on Tuesday.
The straw, which was left in rice paddies even as the Fukushima plant
leaked radiation after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, contained
cesium up to 500 times the levels considered safe. The government is
still conducting tests to determine whether the meat itself was
contaminated.
Experts say the health implications for consumers from cow feed
contamination were not immediately clear.
Tokyo Electric Power Co's Fukushima plant continues to leak radiation
more than four months after the disaster. Tokyo, Thursday, Reuters |