Warning on Kobe beef ruins some appetites

Lovers of Japanese cuisine, especially its famed Kobe beef, have expressed amazement after learning the prized delicacy is banned in China.

Many people were unaware of the prohibition before a China Central Television (CCTV) report on Tuesday exposed the fact that the beef, which has been readily available in the Chinese market for years, had been blacklisted by the Chinese government since an outbreak of mad cow disease in 2001.

At least 46 restaurants in Beijing now claim to sell Kobe, which is known for its highly marbled texture and tender taste. The restaurants are either illegally importing it or passing off domestic beef as the real thing, said CCTV.