Radioactivity Detected Not Only in Seafood but Also in Japanese Chocolate and Green Tea... "Fukushima Is Not the Only Concern"

199 Cases of Cesium Detection After Nuclear Accident
Radioactivity Found in Japanese Processed Foods Including Chocolate

Since the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011 until August 2023, radioactive substances have been detected in 359 cases totaling 3,263 tons of food produced in Japan. In particular, it was found that processed foods imported from Japan after the Fukushima nuclear accident contained cesium in about 200 cases.

Some argue that since radioactive substances are detected annually in Japanese processed foods, import bans should be expanded not only to seafood but also to processed foods.

According to the "Status of Radioactivity Detection in Processed Foods from Japan (March 2011 to May 2023)" submitted by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to Kim Young-joo, a member of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee, radioactivity was detected not only in foods produced in Fukushima but also throughout Japan. The product in which cesium was detected most frequently was chocolate. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article.
[Photo by Pixabay]

According to the "Status of Radioactivity Detection in Japanese Processed Foods (2011.3~2023.5)" submitted by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee member Kim Young-joo, radioactive substances were detected in foods produced not only in Fukushima but throughout Japan.

The product in which cesium was detected most frequently was chocolate. The next most frequent item with cesium detection was 'green tea.' Among the 11 items with a history of cesium detection, 4 and 3 cases respectively were confirmed to be from the same manufacturing facilities.

Additionally, cesium was detected four times in frozen yellowtail and smoked yellowtail imported for sashimi, and six times in skipjack tuna extract and katsuobushi, all seafood processed products. The cesium-detected seafood processed products were also produced by the same manufacturer.

Last year, Japanese-style miso was also confirmed to have cesium detected twice. All 600 kg of miso returned due to cesium detection were produced at the same factory. This product had been imported into Korea 24 times since 2019, totaling 4,160 kg, and even after cesium was detected, 1,550 kg were imported over 9 occasions.

Concerns Raised That On-Site Inspections Are Needed When Cesium Is Repeatedly Detected

On the afternoon of August 25th, members of the People Power Party's 'Protect Our Sea Task Force' watched as employees from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety collected samples of imported frozen skate from Japan at a seafood freezing warehouse in Seo-gu, Busan.
Photo by Yonhap News

When cesium is repeatedly detected in products produced by the same manufacturer, it is pointed out that the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety should dispatch investigators to the site to conduct on-site inspections, including checking manufacturing facilities and raw materials.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety already suspends imports of products from places with inadequate hygiene management through overseas on-site investigations when necessary, so it is necessary to establish strict on-site investigation standards for cesium detection as well.

Assembly member Kim Young-joo said, "Since the Fukushima nuclear accident, public concerns about Japanese food have been high," and added, "In some products such as Japanese miso and seafood processed products, cesium has been detected multiple times."

Kim also emphasized, "Since there are cases of bringing food into the country through online direct purchases and travel, disclosure should be strengthened so that the public can consume products with cesium detected twice with caution," and added, "Some scholars claim internal exposure from food consumption, so for products with even trace amounts of cesium detected, the amount of samples tested should be increased or, if necessary, a full inspection should be conducted to ensure public safety."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.