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Charity No. 1014705

2011-06-01

Minke Whale Meat Delivery Stopped In Japan Due To Fears Of Potential Food Poisoning

On the 26th of May, in an effort to "cheer up" evacuated residents of Ojima District, Ishimaki City, the Japan Small Cetacean Association sent 280 kg of raw minke whale meat to 23 shelters that had been set up in the area following the tragic events of the march earthquake and tsunami. However, town officials stopped the delivery on the 28th, stating that "it could result in food poisoning."

The whale meat came from the spring "scientific" whaling program off Kushiro; some of those participating in the spring hunt include people from Ayukawa and Ishimaki City many of whom lost family and homes after the tsunami.

After finding out about the afternoon delivery of the raw whale meat on the 27th, the Ishimaki City industry department demanded of the Japan small cetacean association that the delivery be canceled stating a concern about food poisoning.  The association contacted the contractors and stopped the delivery. 

The city industry department stated that it would be "problematic to be eating raw whale meat at shelters for sanitation reasons, especially since there are many elderly citizens living a shelter lifestyle where their tolerance/immune system might be weakened." 
 
Last September, the city sold raw whale meat to residents from the Ojima District.  About 160 residents showed food poisoning symptoms, and the city paid the residents about 4,000,000 yen for compensation for damages.

One evacuee who is staying at the Ojima Health Care and Public Service Center said that the city was "ignoring the good will of the sender."  The Director General of the Japan small cetacean association, Chikao Kimura stated that "it is too bad, but we cannot force the meat onto them.  My heart goes out to the people from the district who were looking forward to it."

Source: Mainichi


WDCS thanks the Animal Welfare Institute for sharing the Mainichi Daily News article and providing a translation


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