October 13 2011 Update
Japanese food exporters grapple with Europe's Fukushima fallout
Japanese exhibitors at the Anuga food and drink trade fair in Cologne have had a
tough year exporting to Europe. Memories of the Fukushima nuclear problems are
strong in Europe, but a grasp of Japanese geography is not.
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15452159,00.html
Must-have kitchen gadget: Food radiation checker
Food safety and concerns of radiation contamination are a major concern for the
Japanese citizen and Horiba, a Kyoto-based scientific equipment maker, has decided
to capitalize on this potential market space. The company unveiled its new PA-1000
Radi bucket monitor, which allows consumers to the detect radiation levels ranging
from 0.001 to 9.999 microsieverts per hour.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20116445-1/must-have-kitchen-gadget-
food-radiation-checker/
Japan Seeks New Rice Source
Japanese citizens usually prefer fresh, home-grown rice, but such a treat is not
available this year. Demand has surged for the remaining supplies of last year's
harvest of the country's staple crop, as well as for foreign-grown grains. Shoppers
worry that the latest domestic harvest may be contaminated with radiation from the
Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident.
http://online.wsj.com/article/
SB10001424052970204294504576612450622716270.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
F1 Roar: Red Bull Denies Brought Own Food to Japan
The Red Bull Formula 1 racing team had a stumbling run up to its visit to Japan, days
before the No. 1 team lines up on the track for this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix.
The Japanese online circuit went wild Tuesday when local media outlets reported
the European racing team had arrived with enough food to feed the 80-strong team
and staff members so they can avoid eating Japan-made products during their
stay, and with it any conceivable risk of food contaminated by radiation from the disaster-struck Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2011/10/04/f1-roar-red-bull-denies-brought-
own-food-to-japan/
U.K. expert says limits on radiation 'unreasonable'
Oxford University physics professor emeritus Wade Allison said Monday that
government should relax restrictions on the amount of allowable radiation in food
and also rethink its evacuation criteria for Fukushima Prefecture, site of the world's
worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl. The 500-becquerel limit on food sales
imposed by the Japanese government is identical to the EU's limit but lower than the
1,200-becquerel limit set by the United States, which, Allison asserts, is also overly
cautious.