JP Japan anti nuclear protests Tokyo Fukushima 2011

New rules about caesium content in food issued by the Japanese government last week have had their first application, with authorities ordering a distribution halt two horticultural products.

Japan has tightened its regulations on radioactive caesium content in foods, dropping the accepted level of radioactivity from 500 becquerels to 100 becquerels per kg.

The new rules have put a halt to distribution of mushrooms grown in the town of Murata in the Miyagi Prefecture, which were found to have 350 becquerels per kilogram, reported Jiji Press.

Distribution was also halted for bamboo shoots from Ichihara and Kisarazu, which were measured at 110 becquerels and 120 becquerels respectively.

Radiation checks are conducted before shipping, which means there is no need for a recall.

The detection of radioactive elements in Murata, which is 300km from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant crippled by the tsunami in March last year, has increased calls for compensation to farmers in the area.