Last Saturday, 19th March 2011, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Japan announced radiation-contaminated food were detected. They were milk collected in Fukushima prefecture and spinach picked up in Ibaraki prefecture, located next to Fukushima. It followed by agricultural productes from other prefectures in Kanto region; Tochigi, Gumma and Chiba. The government explained “the levels of radiation for these products pose no immediate health risks if consumed.” After the Fukushima nuclear plan crisis broken out, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare immediately set up the new standard of radiation contaminated in food and has instructed local governements to monitor radiation levels in some fresh food like milk, vegetables, drinking water, egg, meat, fish and sea plants, in order to eliminate radiation-contaminated food from the market. The relevant prefecture governors are asking farmers voluntary to refrain from shipping their products. The national government asks the publc to stay calm and cosniders posing a new regulation in food distribution from the affected areas.
We need to keep our eyes on this issue and urge the local goverments and related organizations to monitor and examin the food safety level continuously and appropriately then to disclose information to the public so we will be able to feel safe and to get out from anxiety.
It is a pitty today I am not able to introduce you how we can enjoy food in Japan.
I will keep you informed if we find any update on this topic and I hope this uneasy situation is terminated soon..
Related links:
The Japan Times online - Q&A Latest threat: radiation-contaminated food
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110321a4.html
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare – Press release in English
“Handling of food contaminated by radioactivity”
“Handling of food contaminated by radioactivity”(separate sheet) – letter to local governments
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