The Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has decided to add tuna, whale and a certain type of pork to its DNA examination list in a bid to crack down on false labeling, it has been learned. Through the testing, ministry officials hope to help prevent such fraud as cheap pork being falsely labeled as high-class meat, and albacore being sold as bluefin tuna.
The new products and others will be subject to examination from the beginning of the 2004 financial year. By examining a wider range of products, ministry officials aim to help stamp out illegal marketing and increase consumers’ awareness of food safety.
Since fiscal 2001, the ministry has annually examined about 2,000 samples of rice products from rice dealers and supermarkets. It has also examined eel, which is traditionally sold in large quantities each year between July and August.
Stores that come under suspicion of acting dishonestly are investigated and ordered under Japan Agricultural Standards to reform their operations.
The products that will be tested from the 2004 fiscal year were included following recent improvements in the precision of DNA testing.