#Radioactive Japan: Fukushima Prefecture Wants to Sell Wild Mushrooms and Wild Edible Plants

While fishermen in Fukushima Prefecture have, for the most part, restrained themselves from pushing hard on resuming the commercial fishing after the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant accident, farmers are a totally different story.

They have never stopped growing vegetables, rice, fruits, mushrooms, cattle for meat, etc., and have insisted that they sell to the rest of Japan as long as the national government says they are under the safety limit (100 Bq/kg radioactive cesium). Right after the start of the nuclear accident and as radioactive fallout was descending on their land, farmers in Fukushima started tilling the land to plant.

"They have to make a living", supporters say. (Don't fishermen, too?)

But this news goes too far as far as I am concerned. Fukushima Prefecture wants to allow farmers to sell wild mushrooms and wild edible plants, which have been known to concentrate radioactive cesium. There is no specific reason given in the article why they are considering lifting the shipment restriction now, and there is no mention of the fact that these food items tend to contain high levels of radioactive cesium.

From Fukushima Minpo via Yahoo Japan (9/12/2013):

キノコ・山菜類の出荷制限解除に向けて説明会　郡山

Briefing on lifting the shipment restriction

福島県は１１日、東京電力福島第一原発事故によるキノコ・山菜類の出荷制限の解除に向けた説明会を郡山市の県林業研究センターで開いた。市町村に対し、個人から持ち寄られた食品の放射性物質検査のデータ提供を求めた。

Fukushima prefectural government held a briefing at the Prefectural Forestry Research Center in Koriyama City toward lifting the shipment restriction on mushrooms and edible wild plants that was put in place because of the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant accident. The prefectural government asked the municipalities to submit data of nuclide analysis of food items submitted by citizens.

　出荷制限の解除には、市町村の単位で、３カ所以上の検査結果が基準値を下回ることが条件。制限する政府は、露地栽培や野生のキノコ・山菜類については管理の難しさなどから、さらに検体数を増やすよう県に求めている。このため、県は検体数を増やし、モニタリングの検査精度を高めたい考えだ。

To lift the shipment restriction in a municipality, samples from three or more locations within a municipality must test below the safety standard. The national government who sets the standard is requesting Fukushima Prefecture to increase the number of samples as it is difficult to manage mushrooms cultivated outdoors, wild mushrooms and wild edible plants. The prefectural government plans to increase the number of samples and enhance the accuracy of monitoring.

　説明会には市町村の担当者ら約百人が出席した。

The briefing was attended by about 100 managers from the municipalities in Fukushima Prefecture.

The reason why the prefectural government is asking for data on a municipal level is that there is hardly any official monitoring data of wild mushrooms and wild edible plants done by the prefecture.

Come to think about it, a "shipping restriction" has not been a "shipping ban" anyway, as the prefectural government lacks will and personnel to enforce the "restriction". All the government (prefectural and municipal) officials do is to tell farmers not to sell them. Besides, the shipment restriction only means farmers are not supposed to sell either outside the municipalities they live in or outside Fukushima Prefecture.

Full of loopholes big enough to drive a farm truck through.

And the farmers cry "baseless rumors" because they cannot get the price they used to get before the accident.

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31,000 Bq/Kg of #Radioactive Cesium in Wild Mushrooms in Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture, Highest "Official" Measurement Ever

As one of the readers noted in the other post, the radiation contamination in Tochigi and Gunma Prefectures (northern Kanto) has been little noted.

The highest official measurement for wild mushrooms was last year, when 28,000 Bq/kg of radioactive cesium was found in wild mushrooms in Fukushima Prefecture.

The reason for the quotation marks for the word "official" in the blog post title is that there were unofficial measurements done last year by private entities with much higher numbers. One of them was done by NHK when the crew, including Dr. Shinzo Kimura, went to Fukushima soon after the accident and started measuring radiation levels and warning residents who still remained in the high-radiation areas. They found 420,000 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium in mushrooms harvested in Akougi District of Namie-machi on March 28, 2011. (For snapshots of the NHK Documentary aired on May 18, 2011, go here. In Japanese.)

From Nikkei Shinbun quoting Kyodo (8/6/2012):

野生キノコから最高値のセシウム

Highest level of cesium detected in wild mushroom

栃木県は６日、日光市で採取した野生チチタケから国の基準値（１キログラム当たり100ベクレル）を大幅に超える３万１千ベクレルの放射性セシウムを検出したと発表した。同市の野生キノコは既に出荷制限されており、県は採取して食べないよう呼び掛ける。

Tochigi Prefecture announced on August 6 that 31,000 Bq/kg of radioactive cesium was detected in wild "Lactarius volemus" (tawny milkcap mushroom) harvested in Nikko City, far exceeding the national safety standard (100 Bq/kg). Shipment of wild mushrooms from the city have been already restricted, and the prefectural government is advising citizens not to harvest and eat the wild mushrooms.

厚生労働省によると、野生キノコでは昨年９月に福島県棚倉町のチチタケで検出した２万８千ベクレルを上回り最高値となる。栃木県は「土壌からの吸収が大きいと思うが、周囲の樹木に残る放射性物質の影響も考えられる」としている。

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, it is the highest level exceeding the amount detected in "Lactarius volemus" harvested in Tanakura-machi in Fukushima Prefecture in September last year, which measured 28,000 Bq/kg. The Tochigi prefectural government says, "We believe the cesium absorption was largely from the soil, but radioactive materials from the surrounding trees may also have affected it."

If you think by now, 17 months after the accident and at least one full year since it became widely known that certain food items were more contaminated than others (mushrooms are on the top of the list), people do not harvest, not to mention eat wild mushrooms or any mushrooms, you're very wrong.

On a separate piece of news at Asahi Shinbun medical news section, WBC (Whole Body Counter) testing revealed that a 70-year-old man in Fukushima Prefecture had 20,000 becquerels/body radioactive cesium as of July 2012. It turned out that he and his wife had been eating mushrooms, vegetables (including wild mountain vegetables) and fruits every day that they or people nearby grew or they harvested from the wild. They didn't even think that they were contaminated, and those food items were never tested. The medical doctor who wrote the article, Dr. Masaharu Tsubokura, says it is the highest that he has ever seen since he started helping people in Fukushima after the nuclear accident, and that it is the level often seen in Belarus.

As to the highly radioactive mushrooms in Nikko City, shipment is "restricted" (i.e. banned) but there is no one enforcing it. Besides, what the prefectural governments do is only to tell the producer not to ship outside the prefecture. There is nothing they do (or are willing to do) to stop these food items from being consumed or distributed inside the prefecture.

Nikko City is circled in red on the map by MEXT, from the revised 8/30/2011 map. The highest contamination of the soil, according to MEXT, is 100,000 to 300,000 becquerels/square meter for radioactive cesium (134+137):

Nikko by the way is a popular destination for summer schools for elementary schools and junior high schools in Kanto Region, as it always has been for decades.

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#Radioactive Japan: New Cesium Safety Limit - What New Cesium Safety Limit?

No matter how the government tweak the safety limits for radioactive cesium in food items, the public are left fending for themselves after all.

First, if you don't measure it, you won't know it.

Chiba Prefecture says it has just found out that fresh shiitake mushrooms sold at an unmanned farm stand had 740 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium. The mushrooms have already been consumed. The prefectural government assures us that the amount is small, and there will be "no immediate, direct" consequence on health.

As if all cesium people ingest is from this shiitake crop.

From Jiji Tsushin (4/9/2012):

無人販売農家のシイタケで検出＝７４０ベクレル、既に消費－千葉

740 becquerels from Shiitake sold at an unmanned farm stand in Chiba, already sold and consumed

千葉県は９日、白井市で露地栽培された原木シイタケから、基準値（１キロ当たり１００ベクレル）を超える７４０ベクレルの放射性セシウムが検出されたと発表した。生産農家は無人販売所で約４キロを既に販売しており、全て消費された。県は同市に出荷自粛を要請した。

Chiba Prefecture announced on April 9 that shiitake mushrooms cultivated outdoors in Shirai City were found with 740 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium, exceeding the safety limit of 100 becquerels/kg [notice it is not provisional anymore; it's permanent]. The farmer had already sold 4 kilograms of these mushrooms, and all had been consumed. The prefectural government requested the city to voluntarily halt shipment.

県は「消費量、放射線量ともに多くなく、すぐに直接被害が出るとは考えられない」としている。

The prefectural government says, "The amount of consumption and the amount of radioactivity are not so great, so it is inconceivable that there will be an immediate, direct damage."

The old, provisional safety limit was 500 becquerels/kg, and the radioactivity of these mushrooms even exceeded the old level. And the same old "requesting voluntary halt" to save money. (Voluntary action is not compensated by the government.)

Second, if you change testing methodology, voila, it is below the safety limit.

Ibaraki Prefecture is one of the prefectures in northern Kanto region whose teas tested above the provisional safety limit of 500 becquerels/kg last year. But now, the national government has changed the rule for teas. Teas are to be tested after they are brewed. So unless the tea has over 1,000 bequerels/kg of cesium, the brewed tea (liquid) will be well below 10 becquerels/kg (new safety limit for water).

From Jiji Tsushin (4/9/2012):

茨城・大子の春番茶、制限解除＝セシウム基準値以下－政府

Restriction lifted from the spring "bancha" tea from Daigo, Ibaraki Prefecture, as the amount of radioactive cesium is below the safety limit, says the national government

政府は９日、茨城県大子町の春番茶について、放射性セシウムの基準値（飲用茶の状態で１キロ当たり１０ベクレル）が３地点で下回ったとして出荷停止を解除した。

The national government lifted the restriction on shipment of the spring "bancha" tea from Daigo-machi in Ibaraki Prefecture on Spril 9, as the amount of radioactive cesium was below the safety limit (10 becquerels/kg in brewed tea) in three locations tested.

同町の生茶葉から昨年６月、暫定規制値（１キロ当たり５００ベクレル）を上回る放射性セシウムが検出され、出荷停止となっていた。

The shipment of tea from Daigo was halted when radioactive cesium exceeding the provisional safety limit (500 becquerels/kg) was found from fresh tea leaves in June last year.

I went to the Ibaraki Prefecture's website to look for the original data. The data does include the measurement of radioactive cesium the "old way" - measuring the dried tea leaves. If the old way of applying the safety limit on the dried leaves, there are many teas that easily exceed the new safety limit.

From Ibaraki Prefecture's test result, the top red bracket shows the measurement of cesium in "aracha" tea (bulk tea before blending) from Daigo-machi, and the bottom red bracket shows the measurement of cesium in the liquid after the tea is brewed:

Well, there are slight problems with the new way of only measuring brewed tea. There are people who "eat" tea leaves (although I doubt they still do it after the accident, but who knows). I drink "konacha", or powdered tea which is a strong, sushi-shop style green tea that is cheaper and stronger. My cup is left with green "sludge" at the bottom, which I ingest (my tea is from 2010). Many use green tea powders as health supplements.

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Radioactive Shiitake Mushrooms from Inzai City, Chiba at 993 Bq/Kg

Inzai City is located in the northwest corner of Chiba where the radiation levels remain elevated.

From Asahi Shinbun (2/23/2012):

政府は２３日、国の暫定基準（１キロあたり５００ベクレル）を超える放射性セシウムが検出されたとして、千葉県印西市で生産される原木シイタケ（露地栽培）の出荷停止を県知事に指示した。２２日に９９３ベクレルを検出していた。

On February 23, the Japanese government ordered the governor of Chiba Prefecture to halt shipment of shiitake mushrooms grown in Inzai City in Chiba Prefecture. 993 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium, exceeding the national provisional limit of 500 becquerels/kg, was detected on February 22.

The amount of radioactive cesium detected is nearly 10 times the amount of the new safety limit to be put into effect on April 1.

Still, many people don't seem to care, and the schools continue to use shiitake mushrooms, raw or dried, in their school lunches to feed small children.

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2077 Bq/Kg of Radioactive Cesium from Dried Shiitake "Made in Japan"

Sure. Iwate Prefecture is Japan alright. Since the company who packaged the dried shiitake claims it has mixed shiitake harvested in different parts of Japan (never mind that they did say the shiitake are mostly from Iwate Prefecture), the label can claim "made in Japan".

The photo is from the press release from Yokohama City. (Click to enlarge.)

From Sankei Shinbun Kanto local version (2/9/2012):

セシウム基準値４倍超え乾燥シイタケ、横浜のスーパーで７袋販売　

7 packets of dried shiitake mushrooms with radioactive cesium 4 times the provisional safety standard sold in Yokohama supermarket

横浜市は９日、港北区内のスーパーで販売されていた袋入り乾燥シイタケから、食品衛生法の定める暫定基準値１キロ当たり５００ベクレルの４倍を超える同２０７７ベクレルの放射性セシウムを検出したと発表した。すでに７袋が販売されており、市は出荷した加工業者のある静岡県に通報、販売したスーパーに回収を指示した。

Yokohama City announced on February 9 that 2,077 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium was detected from dried mushrooms sold at a supermarket in Kohoku-ku in the city. The provisional safety limit is 500 becquerels/kg. 7 packets have already been sold. The city notified Shizuoka Prefecture where the packaging company is located, and ordered the supermarket to recall the packets.

　独自に調査した市民からの通報を受け市が９日に検査した。高濃度のセシウムが検出されたのはスーパーチェーン「ビッグヨーサン」の綱島樽町店が販売していた賞味期限が来年１月１０日の乾燥シイタケの袋詰め「小粒どんこ」。静岡県藤枝市の「大塚フード」が８０グラムずつ袋詰めして出荷した同スーパーの専売品。加工業者によると、乾燥シイタケの産地は主に岩手県という。

After being notified by a citizen who measured the radioactivity [of this dried shiitake] on his own, the city conducted its testing on February 9. The Tsunashima-Tarumachi store of a supermarket chain "Big Yosun" sold these mushrooms with effective date of 1/10/2013. Otsuka Food located in Fujieda City in Shizuoka Prefecture packaged the mushrooms in 80 gram packets, which was sold exclusively at the supermarket chain. According to the packaging company, the mushrooms are mostly from Iwate Prefecture.

　スーパーによると、綱島樽町店では２０袋を入荷し、うち７袋を販売。ほか２店でも店頭に並んだが、購入者はいないという。

According to the supermarket chain, their Tsunashima-Tarumachi store had purchased 20 packets, and sold 7 packets. 2 other stores also had the packets but none of them have been sold, according to the chain.

市によると、この乾燥シイタケをそのまま８０グラム食べた場合の人体への被曝（ひばく）線量は、最も大きい０歳で０・００３８３３ミリシーベルト。１３歳以上では０・００２５７２４ミリシーベルトと推計され、水で戻した場合の放射性セシウム濃度は、おおむね１０分の１になるとみられる。

According to the city, if one eats 80 grams of this dried shiitake the internal radiation for 0-year-old would be 0.003833 millisievert, and 0.0025724 millisievert for people 13 years old and older. It is considered that if you re-hydrate the shiitake, the density of radioactive cesium would drop to about one-tenth.

　厚生労働省が来年度の施行に向けてまとめた食品中の放射性物質に関する新たな基準値案では、食品による内部被曝線量の限度を年間１ミリシーベルト以下としている。

According to the new safety standard guidelines that the Ministry of Health and Labour has compiled to take effect in the new fiscal year [starting on April Fool's Day], the internal radiation exposure limit is 1 millisievert per year or less.

As if 80 grams of dried shiitake from Iwate with radioactive cesium is all you eat the whole year.

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#Radioactive Mushroom: 1,033 Bq/Kg of Radioactive Cesium from Dried Shiitake in Shizuoka Prefecture

There's always "the first"..

From Jiji Tsushin (10/7/2011):

静岡県は７日、同県伊豆市内で生産・加工された乾燥シイタケについて販売業者が行った自主検査で、食品衛生法の暫定規制値（１キロ当たり５００ベクレル）を超える１０３３ベクレルの放射性セシウムが検出されたと発表した。これを受け県は８日、生産者が保管していた同じ加工品について、放射性物質検査を実施する。

Shizuoka Prefecture announced on October 7 that 1,033 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium exceeding the provisional safety limit of 500 becquerels/kg was found in the dried shiitake mushrooms produced and processed in Izu City in Shizuoka. It was found by a voluntary testing by a retailer. The prefectural government plans to conduct its own testing of the remaining products kept at the producer on October 8.

　県によると、乾燥シイタケは３～４月に伊豆市で収穫され、４月中旬までに同市内で加工された。生産者は県内外５カ所の業者に販売。一部は既に消費されたとみられるが、販売先の業者はいずれも自主的に撤去したという。

According to the prefectural government, the shiitake mushrooms in question were harvested in Izu City in March and April, and processed in the city by the middle of April. The producer sold to 5 retailers in and out of Shizuoka. Some are considered to have been already consumed, but the retailers have voluntarily removed the mushrooms from their stores.

If the mushrooms were harvested in that time period, radioactive cesium must be from the fallout on the surface of the mushrooms. The Ministry of Education is yet to conduct the aerial survey of Shizuoka Prefecture, and the Hayakawa radiation contour map only shows the east side of the Izu Peninsula with some radiation. Izu City is located in the center of the peninsula.

(The map showing the location of Izu City is from this blog. Thank you.)

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Wild Mushroom in Fukushima Tested 28,000 Becquerels/kg of Radioactive Cesium

"It's not food any more, it's simply radioactive materials", as the young man at the Citizen's Radioactivity Measuring Station in Fukushima City said of the radioactive mushroom in Germany's ZDF program aired on August 9.

Wild mushroom harvested in a town in Fukushima tested highest ever radioactive cesium so far in food after the Fukushima I Nuke Plant accident that I'm aware of: 28,000 becquerels per kilogram.

According to the data from Fukushima Prefecture, 13,000 becquerels/kg of cesium-134, and 15,000 becquerels/kg of cesium-137 were detected from the mushroom.

The town, Tanakura-machi, is located at about 73 kilometers southwest of Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant.

From Yomiuri Shinbun (9/3/2011):

福島県は３日、同県棚倉町の山林で採取した野生のチチタケから、国の暫定規制値（１キロ・グラム当たり５００ベクレル）を大幅に上回る２万８０００ベクレルの放射性セシウムが検出されたと発表した。

Fukushima Prefecture announced on September 3 that 28,000 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium was detected from wild mushroom, Lactarius volemus, harvested in the mountains in Tanakura-machi. The level of radioactive cesium vastly exceeds the national provisional safety limit of 500 becquerels/kg.

　チチタケはシーズン初めのため、市場に流通しているものはないが、県は同日、同町や販売業者に、チチタケを含む野生キノコ（菌根菌類）の摂取と出荷を自粛するよう通知した。

It is still early in the season for this particular mushroom and it is not sold in the market. The prefectural government notified the town and the distributors to voluntarily halt harvesting and shipping of wild mushrooms including Lactarius volemus.

　県によると、このチチタケは１日に採取された。県は今後、付近の野生キノコの放射性物質検査を行うとともに、摂取自粛を呼びかける看板の設置などを行う。

According to the prefectural government, the mushroom was harvested on September 1. The government is going to test the mushrooms nearby for radioactive materials, and put up signs calling for voluntary halt on harvesting.

　同県では、これまで野生のキノコで暫定規制値を超えたのは、同県古殿町のチチタケの３２００ベクレルが最高値で、県は「ここだけ突然高い値が出たので困惑している。調査を続けて原因を調べたい」としている。

In Fukushima Prefecture, 3,200 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium has been detected from Lactarius volemus harvested in Furudono-machi. The prefectural government says, "We are surprised at the extremely high number. We will continue to investigate and identify the cause".

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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.

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Radioactive Cesium from Shiitake Mushrooms Grown Indoors in Date City, Fukushima

(Update: 28 kg of Date City shiitake were sold within Fukushima. 129 kg of Motomiya City shiitake went to the fresh produce wholesale market in Tokyo, according to Asahi.)

1,770 becquerels per kilogram. That's the first since the government started the sample testing of food items. Date City is more than 50 kilometers northwest of Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant.

From Yomiuri Shinbun (10:08AM JST 7/16/2011):

厚生労働省は１５日、福島県伊達市の施設栽培シイタケで暫定規制値（１キロ当たり５００ベクレル）を上回る同１７７０ベクレルの放射性セシウムが検出され たと発表した。　本宮市でも５６０ベクレルを検出した。露地栽培シイタケではすでに同県内の１６市町村で出荷が制限されているが、施設栽培シイタケで規制 値を上回ったのは初めて。政府は出荷制限を検討する。

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare announced on July 15 that 1,770 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium was detected from shiitake mushrooms grown indoors in Date City, Fukushima Prefecture. The provisional safety limit is 500 becquerels/kg. Shiitake mushrooms grown in Motomiya City in Fukushima also tested 560 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium. Already, 16 municipalities in Fukushima Prefecture restrict the shipment of shiitake mushrooms grown outdoors. This is the first time that shiitake mushrooms that were grown indoors tested above the safety limit. The national government will consider the shipment restriction.

Where did this cesium come from, if the mushrooms were grown indoors? Is the indoor air just as contaminated as the outdoor air in Date City? Or was it the mushroom substrate blocks (for indoor cultivation) that were contaminated?

In the meantime, the minister in charge of the Fukushima nuke accident and the assistant of PM Kan apparently told the governor of Fukushima that the so-called "step 1" (stable cooling of the reactors, among others) of the so-called "roadmap" by TEPCO has been "successfully completed" (link is in Japanese).

July 17 is the so-called "deadline" to so-called "complete" the so-called "step 1". Upon the so-called "completion", the government is set to announce the reduction and/or elimination of the "emergency evacuation-ready zone". Never mind that is where the radioactive cows that ate the radioactive rice hay come from.

Date City was not even in the "emergency evacuation-ready zone" until June 30, even though the air radiation level had consistently measured high, the level of "planned evacuation zone".

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