E. Coli scare in Japan takes raw beef liver off the shelves

JAPAN – A food-safety panel has decided to ban the serving of raw beef liver after deeming it a health risk. Effective this July, barbecue restaurants  and local bars will no longer serve this favourite dish which is part of Japan’s culinary culture.

According to the Health Ministry of Japan, the food banning is due to E. coli — a potentially deadly strain of the pathogen called O-157. Because it can produce a powerful toxin, it can cause serious illness, even in small doses. The food-safety panel said its verdict is the only preventative measure effective enough to ensure consumer health, following tests that showed the pathogen can fester inside the meat as well as on its surface.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Tags: ban, e. coli, food, food ban, food poisoning

Category: Health alert