Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Fukushima Prefecture to Test Wild Mushrooms Harvested in Fukushima

Is it even an issue at this point?

There was absolutely no information in March and April warning against radioactive fallout in the countryside in Fukushima, where many residents ate the wild mountain vegetables - seasonal delicacy. On the contrary, as we all know now throughout the world (I hope), the national government and the Fukushima prefectural government were busily dispatching the two Nagasaki University professors (Yamashita and Takayama) to brainwash the residents.

Now the Fukushima prefectural government says it will test wild mushrooms. About the only reason I can think of is that the prefectural government just wants to make sure they are contaminated beyond 500 becquerels/kg level, so that they can send the bill to TEPCO for non-sales. If they are contaminated but with less than 500 becquerels/kg level and people still don't buy the mushrooms, they will send the bill to TEPCO anyway for damages from "baseless rumor", also known as "radiation".

The testing probably has nothing to do with safety for the consumers. Remember, they, and everyone in the government or with strong ties with the government have been saying all along that if you eat food that contains radioactive cesium well exceeding 500 becquerels/kg, it is safe.

From Yomiuri Shinbun (8/3/2011):

東京電力福島第一原発事故を受け、福島県は3日、これから収穫シーズンを迎える野生のキノコについて、放射性物質の検査を実施すると発表した。

Fukushima Prefecture announced on August 3 that it will test wild mushrooms in Fukushima for radioactive materials. The harvest season for wild mushrooms will start soon.

 検査は週内から始める予定。

The testing will start within this week.

 県農林水産部によると、検査対象は県内の直売所などで販売される45種類。

According to the prefecture's Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Division, the testing will done on 45 types of mushrooms sold at shops within the prefecture including direct sales depots.

 検査で放射性物質の規制値を上回った場合、そのキノコが属するタイプすべてについて、出荷自粛するよう、キノコが採れた市町村に要請する。

If radioactive materials exceeding the provisional safety limit are found in a mushroom, the prefectural government will ask the municipality where the mushroom was harvested to voluntarily stop the shipment of the same mushrooms.

Still no information as to what caused the hothouse mushrooms to become radioactive.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Robbie001 sez:

All I can think of is what would Matsua Basho write about the current situation.

Ear of the pine tree
mushroom on a strange tree
with a leaf stuck to it

Out mushroom hunting
dangerously close to caught in
late autumn showers

One of my favorites is:

O bush warblers!
Now you’ve sh*t all over
my rice cake on the porch

Matsua Basho (1644-1694)

I can see his consternation very clearly in this handful of words I'm sure he'd have some choice things to say about Fukushima.

Anonymous said...

Let's see, you're near a nuclear plant that has blew up and melted down. The place is a disaster of gigantic proportions.

I wonder if the plants, air, water, and food are "dirty" because of radiation? Nope! Don't confuse me with the facts and history!

Satan has once again proven that, man is God's worst creation! Special needs, low intellect, high in ignorance, and too lazy to even save himself from disasters he creates!

Anonymous said...

Of course, they'll find radiation. Wild mushrooms and wild berries were the most serious source of internal radiation following Chernobyl!!

Anonymous said...

it all seems to make sense

Atomfritz said...

No worries, please!

In Germany we are still used to several 1000s of becquerels/kg of Cs-137 in mushrooms in some areas that got chernobyl fallout.
In 1986 the values were up to the six-digit-range, so much has improved.

Wild pig meat is still sort of gambling. You can get between 80 and 65,000 bq/kg nowadays here.

(Source: Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz - German Federal Office for Radiation Protection, link : http://www.bfs.de/de/ion/nahrungsmittel/pilze_wildbret.html)

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