After the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in Japan in March 2011, the number of processed foods imported from Japan with cesium detected increased to nearly 200. It is pointed out that it is necessary to disclose foods that have had cesium detected multiple times to consumers and to strengthen cesium testing when re-importing.
On the 13th, Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Young-joo, a member of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee, received the ‘Status of radiation detection in Japanese processed foods (2011.3.14.~2023.5.31.)’ received from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. As a result, cesium was detected in processed foods from Japan after the Fukushima accident. Food was found to be involved in 199 cases.
Among these, from January to April 2011, when cesium was detected but before the grounds for return were established, 14 products with cesium detected were cleared through customs without return.
Since May 2011, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has been conducting iodine cesium radioactivity tests (sample surveys) on processed foods and livestock products imported from Japan upon each import. If even a trace amount is detected, additional nuclide certificates such as strontium are required to virtually prevent it from being brought into the country.
When we analyzed products with a history of cesium being detected, the product in which cesium was detected most often was chocolate, which is often consumed by children. Products with a history of cesium detection were mainly imported in 2012 and 2013, and were mainly produced by the same manufacturer.
The next item with high frequency of cesium detection was confirmed to be ‘green tea’, and it was confirmed that 4 and 3 of the 11 items with a history of cesium detection were from the same manufacturer, respectively. A total of 11 teas were returned after cesium was detected in them. Among these, products produced by the same manufacturer were found to have cesium detected several times.
In addition, cesium was detected in processed seafood products, including frozen yellowtail and smoked yellowtail imported for raw fish on four occasions, and bonito extract and katsuobushi six times. Frozen yellowtail is a food whose raw materials are 100% marine products, so it is actually a marine product. The processed seafood product in which cesium was detected was also produced by the same manufacturer.
In 2022, cesium detection history was confirmed twice in Japanese soybean paste, and all 600 kg of soybean paste returned with cesium detection were produced at the same factory. A total of 4,160 kg of this product was imported into the country on 24 occasions since 2019, and 1,550 kg was imported on 9 occasions even after cesium was detected.
Rep. Kim pointed out that if cesium is repeatedly detected in products produced by the same manufacturing facility, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety needs to conduct on-site inspections, such as dispatching investigators to the site to identify manufacturing facilities and raw materials.
Rep. Kim said, “As the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is already taking measures to suspend imports from places where hygiene management is inadequate through overseas on-site investigations when necessary, there is a need to establish strict on-site inspection standards for cesium detection.”
He continued, “As there are cases of food being brought into the country through online direct purchase and travel, in the case of products in which cesium has been detected twice, disclosure must be strengthened so that the public can consume with caution.” He added, “There is a history of cesium being detected even in trace amounts.” “In the case of products with this condition, we must increase the amount of samples tested or conduct a full investigation when necessary to ensure that the public can feel at ease,” he ordered.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.