SOUTH of Tokyo: Cesium in tea leaves above maximum limit

“Radioactive contamination problems are far from over”

A prefecture just south of Tokyo said it had detected higher-than-permissible amounts of radioactive material in tea leaves, in a reminder that Japan’s radioactive-contamination problems are far from over. <...>

According to Kanagawa officials, a sample of tea leaves collected May 9 from the city of Minamiashigara, in the western part of the prefecture, was found to contain 550 becquerels of cesium per kilogram in the first test; the second test of the same sample detected 570 becquerels. <...>

Kanagawa tested tea leaves for the first time because local farmers were about to start shipping this year’s tea leaves they had just picked. <...>

http://enenews.com/south-of-tokyo-cesium-in-tea-leaves-exceeds-legal-limits-japans-radioactive-contamination-problems-are-far-from-over

And so it spreads...

Here you have a country which already has problems covering up black marks on their past and acknowledging current problems. What happens when you put that country in a position where it is desperate to export goods (including food) and where those goods might be toxic?

I have every reason to believe the answer is likely "attempt to ship the toxic goods anyway".

Without inspections proving otherwise at US customs, all Japanese goods (and much of what comes out of Asia, period) should be considered potentially toxic. And because some goods are shipped from that region to processing plants in other countries and then shipped here, I don't see why radiation screening should not be part of our import system (if something like it isn't already in place).

PB

I can tell you now I will not buy anymore food from Japan. This is a huge sacrifice on my part because I love tea, ume plums, radish pickles, miso, etc. I will use what is left in my house and cease to buy from Japan.

This breaks my heart.

...many products as it sounds like you do. But my miso, alone, is going to be missed deeply. That stuff is like raw carrot juice as far as how much of a boost it gives me.

Japanese food is, and has always been, my favorite food. Mostly sushi. That's all going to have to change. I will be hitting my local Asian markets for a little while longer for pre-packaged goods and then I fucking don't know what I'm going to do. But I don't love Japanese food/Pacific seafood (eventually) enough to be eating radioactive material!

Tapeworms and parasites from the sushi I can mostly turn a blind eye to (it's all about unagi for me, anyway) but chowing down on plutonium...can't justify that possibility.

PB

all is not lost, I can think of at least one good place for the radioactive tea :P

I failed to make the connection!

So in that sense yes it is an issue to pay attention to!

What if the fallout keeps spreading and impacts crops in neighboring China or Korea?
We have been hearing warnings from other parts of the world that shortages of food supplies are already in the cards (and more recent bad news on that front: Midwest farmland flooding boosts food prices). This news could just be another indication that more of already scarce world food supplies will have to be diverted to feed Japan and in a worst case scenario, maybe even China or Korea too if their croplands become polluted by the fallout. And we all know what this increased demand would mean for world food prices.

Any indications that it is spreading are a concern. I was responding to the last poster because I wasn't sure they understood my concern. It isn't the tea crop. It's the spread of fallout. And as you suggest the domino effect.

Does seem like the world has more to worry about right now than all the trivia of our daily lives. And one would think there would be immediate cessation of all wars. We have more grave concerns. Instead of jihad, get on your knees and pray. Or do something to help. Instead of making money you can't spend if there is no future, find answers, do something to save the world from this catastrophe. Our survival is at stake.

I don't think I am exaggerating to say so.

We need more people who are able to see the big picture. Thanks for your post!