Japan Suspends Imports Of Meat
From U.S. Firm For Beef Sausage
By Richard Smith
TOKYO — Japan suspended all imports from Los Angeles, California-based Jobbers Meat Packing last Friday because a sausage shipment from the company contained U.S. beef.
And the country's ministry of agriculture, forestry and fisheries will conduct random sample checks of all processed meat products for which export permit applications are filed by U.S. exporters.
The shipment, which arrived at Kobe Port February 22, included two types of sausages with labels on the wrapping saying they contain beef from U.S.-raised cattle, MAFF said in a March 2 press release on its Japanese-language website.
The press release said the the sausages with labels indicating they contain U.S. beef weighed in total 1300 kilograms and were found in 188 of 1108 boxes in the 16-ton cargo shipment.
However, a USDA certificate attached to the cargo made no mention of beef as among the ingredients. Processed beef is banned under U.S. beef export to Japan rules.
MAFF's press release said an analysis of the two types of sausages showed one of the two contained beef. The other did not, despite beef being listed as an ingredient on the label.
"This is really deplorable, so we have requested the U.S. conduct an investigation," Japanese ag minister Yoshio Kobayashi told a Monday news conference, reproduced on MAFF's website.
MAFF's press release said the suspension of imports from Jobbers Meat Packing will continue until the ministry examines the U.S. investigation's results, to ensure their is no safety problem.
From U.S. Firm For Beef Sausage
By Richard Smith
TOKYO — Japan suspended all imports from Los Angeles, California-based Jobbers Meat Packing last Friday because a sausage shipment from the company contained U.S. beef.
And the country's ministry of agriculture, forestry and fisheries will conduct random sample checks of all processed meat products for which export permit applications are filed by U.S. exporters.
The shipment, which arrived at Kobe Port February 22, included two types of sausages with labels on the wrapping saying they contain beef from U.S.-raised cattle, MAFF said in a March 2 press release on its Japanese-language website.
The press release said the the sausages with labels indicating they contain U.S. beef weighed in total 1300 kilograms and were found in 188 of 1108 boxes in the 16-ton cargo shipment.
However, a USDA certificate attached to the cargo made no mention of beef as among the ingredients. Processed beef is banned under U.S. beef export to Japan rules.
MAFF's press release said an analysis of the two types of sausages showed one of the two contained beef. The other did not, despite beef being listed as an ingredient on the label.
"This is really deplorable, so we have requested the U.S. conduct an investigation," Japanese ag minister Yoshio Kobayashi told a Monday news conference, reproduced on MAFF's website.
MAFF's press release said the suspension of imports from Jobbers Meat Packing will continue until the ministry examines the U.S. investigation's results, to ensure their is no safety problem.