Japanese Restaurant Blames Australian Beef for E. coli

Australian beef is coming under the scanner after a popular Japanese diner claimed it was to be held responsible for an E.coli outbreak in Japan. 

However, the Australian meat industry maintains it might have been lettuce, beef or pork from any other country. 

After eating at Gyukaka – a popular Korean-themed barbecue restaurant chain, 20 people have taken ill  in Toyama prefecture; 15 of them were found to be infected with the deadly O157 strain of E.coli.  

REINS International, the operators of this restaurant chain, said they believed the source of the infections to be imported Aussie beef. 

The company stated it had changed its Aussie beef supplier, but public health authorities did not find any E. coli bacteria at the affected restaurant.  

Nearly 40% of Australia’s beef exports are sent to Japan.