Is Rice from Fukushima Safe?—Facts from All Bags Inspection

Voices that concern rice grown in Fukushima is persistent. What, then, the reality is?

All rice bags produced in Fukushima—which is 10 million in total—are inspected. Under this inspection, all rice grown in Fukushima, including captive consumptions, is measured as it is filled in bags.

The Fukushima-Daiichi incident happened in March 2011 caused high degree of concerns on radioactive contamination of crops grown in Fukushima. In order to eliminate such concerns, a group of famers called ‘Fukushima-no-Megumi’ started the All Bags Inspection. Since April of 2012 until now, all rice produced in Fukushima has been inspected.

Then question is: how many rice bags have exceeded the reference value that the Food Sanitation Act regulated (100Bq/Kg)?

From April 2012 to March 2013, 71 bags out of 10 million, 28 between April 2013 to March 2014, 2 from April 2014 to March 2015, and no bags exceeded the regulation after April 2015. In addition, rice that went beyond the legal reference value is not in the market since 2014. These facts indicate rice from Fukushima is safe to eat.