Yoshiyuki Kamei, agriculture, forestry and fisheries minister, expressed reservations Friday about changing Japanese safety standards on beef and beef products in connection with mad cow disease.
In reference to a decision made Thursday by the World Organization for Animal Health designating the entire intestines -- not only parts of them -- as a material that runs the risk of transmitting mad cow disease, Kamei said, "We have a custom of eating intestines in our country."
Kamei said it is important to prevent the spread of rumors that all intestines are dangerous.
"We must make efforts to provide accurate information to consumers," he said.