There have been some concerns about the health effects of radioactive materials in food for sale in markets and served in homes ever since the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO)'s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident, and to some extent, these concerns remain.
In this section, we will introduce the standard limits for radioactive materials in food, results of product inspections, effects on health, and initiatives for reducing the concentration of radioactive materials in food in order to improve understanding of food safety and develop accurate knowledge of the effects of radioactive materials in food.
Food Relationship Diagram
Click on red, underlined sections in the relationship diagram to access the pages for each section.
View full document in PDF formatInspection results
For foods that are often eaten in daily life, inspection results are available which show the progression of radioactive material content from after the accident to the present, divided into different categories. This section will also introduce the instruments used for measuring the concentration of radioactive materials.
- (i)Results of inspections of radioactive materials in food
- (ii)Examples of initiatives in the production and shipment of foods
- (iii)Methods of measuring doses
Standard limit
In order to ensure safety and consumer peace of mind for food, a standard limit for radioactive materials in foods is established. This s ection will explain the approach for the establishment of the standard limits selected and also present a calculation example for exposure doses from foods from the perspective of related health risk.
View this section in PDF formatFood Effects on Health
The Food-Related Health Risk Assessment (risk assessment) has been conducted regarding the radioactive materials in foods, and the results of these assessments are collected. Information about the risks of cancer related to radiation exposure and international radiation exposure assessments is also available.
View this section in PDF format