Perilous
Times
Tokyo city starts radiation tests on food in shops
by Staff Writers
Tokyo (AFP) Nov 8, 2011
Tokyo city government on Tuesday began radiation tests on samples
of food bought in shops to reassure residents amid a contamination
scare after a major nuclear accident in northeast Japan.
It is rare that authorities check on products at the point of sale
and the the inspection includes processed food as well as fresh
produce.
The metropolitan government is measuring radiation on vegetables
and other fresh food to complement pre-shipment tests at places of
production.
"We are conducting tests on the food residents are actually buying
at supermarkets and other retail stores," an official in charge of
the food monitoring said, adding some Tokyo residents had
requested the tests.
The city plans to conduct tests on 20-30 items a week, he said.
"Our tests are designed to complement checks that have been
conducted" by the central and local governments, the Tokyo
official said.
The city will post tests results on its website every week
starting Wednesday. Food items found to have radiation levels
above restriction levels will be banned.
A massive tsunami triggered by a 9.0 earthquake on March 11
crippled the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, which has since
spewed radiation into the air, soil and sea.
Japan has temporarily banned shipments of a range of foodstuffs
including beef, green vegetables, milk and dairy products, small
fish, mushrooms and green tea from some areas of the country after
contamination was found.