All Fukushima rice to be checked for radiation

35,000 farms exceeded 50 becquerels per kilogram

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201208240074

All Fukushima rice to be checked for radiation

August 24, 2012 By TETSUYA KASAI/ Staff Writer

For the second year following the disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, the Fukushima prefectural government is inspecting all bags of rice produced in the prefecture to ensure levels of radiation are below government limits, which were lowered this year to 100 becquerels per kilogram. Separately, the central government this year will focus on examining rice from farms and districts where more than 50 becquerels per kilogram of radioactive cesium was detected in last year's crops. Fukushima Prefecture is expected to have 35,000 such locations.

This year, farmers in the district have taken measures to reduce radiation levels in their crops, including spreading zeolite on their fields to absorb the radioactive cesium, to meet the government's new stricter limits.

The early crops will be checked on Aug. 25, and if radiation levels do not exceed the 100-becquerel limit, it will be shipped as early as Aug. 27. After the checks are completed, a sticker with a QR code will be put on the bags of rice so that distributors can confirm the test results. The prefecture is also considering putting a sticker on bags of polished rice to show consumers the products have cleared the checks.