Australian beef is not to blame for a recent outbreak of E.coli in Japan, Meat and Livestock Australia confirmed on Monday.
Twenty people have fallen ill in Japan's Toyama prefecture, with 15 of them infected with the O157 strain of E.coli after eating at a popular Korean-style barbecue restaurant chain, Gyukaka, on May 6.
The operators of the restaurant chain, REINS International, said they suspected the bacterium might have been carried by beef imported from Australia.
After conducting an investigation into the Japanese outbreak, regional manager for Meat and Livestock Australia, Melanie Brock, said testing shows Australian beef was not the source of the outbreak.
"The Toyama prefecture health authorities have confirmed following a thorough inspection that imported Australian beef was not the source of an incident of E.coli," Brock said in a statement on Monday.
"The authorities continue to investigate other food consumed by the affected customers."
Brock said Australian beef has long been recognized by the Japanese trade and consumers for its strong safety record.
Brock added that Australian beef for export to Japan is processed under the veterinary supervision of the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, and is recognized internationally as bearing a high hygienic standard.