Japan imports 11% more beef due to Fukushima nuclear fallout fears

JAPAN has increased its beef imports by 11% from this time last year, largely due to health fears relating to fallout from the Fukushima nuclear plant.

Japan imported 204,543 tons of beef in the five months ended May 31, an increase of 11% from the same period last year, according to Japan’s agriculture ministry. Much of that jump is made up of imports from the US.

Japan’s government said yesterday it can’t rule out the possibility that beef contaminated with radioactive material has been exported, as consumers and lawmakers accused authorities of negligence on food safety.