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Last Friday's earthquake woes continue for Japan. The radiation threat from a nuclear power plant in Fukushima, where fires have already exposed radiation waves as far out as Tokyo, isn't abating, and the U.S. has issued evacuation orders for everyone located within a 50-mile perimeter of the reactor. As uncertainty remains, countries that import Japanese food are on alert for possible contamination.
Those nearby, such as Thailand, South Korea, Taiwan, India, Singapore and parts of China, have begun screening the imported Japanese food for radiation, and Italy has banned all Japanese food imports outright. Tuesday, the European Union issued an alert recommending radiation checks on all imports that have come out of Japan since March 15.
Contaminated food continues to emit radiation -- the stronger the level of radiation, the longer it lasts. Any exposure to radiation increases the risk of cancer.
What types of food is implicated? Anything grown or produced in the fallout area -- and affected areas continue to spread. Most at risk are living foods such as plants and animals, which could absorb radiation through the ground, reports the Wall Street Journal. "Immediate contamination could occur from particles from the air settling on plants or feed, or in the longer run radioactive elements could get washed to the soil where plants grow," states the Journal. This would affect fresh foods as well as animal products from affected livestock such as milk and cheese. Non-growing foods kept in warehouses and silos should be protected.
White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters yesterday, "The agencies that check food imports do that every day and of course are aware of what has happened in Japan and will be checking food accordingly."
- See chilling photos of the earthquake damage at AOL News.
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3-17-2011 @8:49PM whiteoak said... yes worry worry,, the radiation will just kill the bad bugs,,,,pretty hard to ger rediation 500 miles at sea,,,,if it was stilk in japan when the water hiit it's stil there as they need everything that is available quit being a worrywort and grow up and facethe real world
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3-18-2011 @1:39PM SquirdlockeanMenendozavich said... Its good for you , it kills of e coli and other bugs . No mad cow either . Eat up
3-17-2011 @8:55PM nancy l lystrup said... While the European countries are protecting their citizens from radiation in food, our government is allowing irradiated food in the US>
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3-18-2011 @10:08AM C said... According to the USDA and there website here fhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Irradiation_and_Food_Safety
FSIS recognizes irradiation as an important technology to protect consumers. Irradiation of food reduces the numbers of harmful bacteria that may be present in food, including E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, and Campylobacter. Many consumers want to know more about what food irradiation is and how it works. This brochure answers questions that consumers frequently ask about food irradiation
3-17-2011 @9:58PM John said... Nancy, Irradiated food is totally different than food that's absorbed radioactive material. Food is irradiated with gamma rays produced from radioactive cobalt. The gamma rays pass through, killing bacteria, molds, yeasts, and any other things on the food. But, the food does not become radioactive from it.
When a power plant blows it's uranium into the air, some of that will settle on the soil, and on the plants growing there. That will continue to give off radiation for a while. It's the neutrons that come out of the uranium that are the problem. Of course, the gamma rays are too, since you can't shut off the radioactivity from the uranium. Maybe, a thorough washing will get the particles off the food and down the drain. What's growing in Japan at this time of year?
Regards
3-18-2011 @11:20AM Tom said... To John: I'm glad someone else has their head on straight.
I had to go through the same explanation on another comments board earlier today.
A guy had 3 different postings:
One was that radon gas was flooding everyone's homes while they worried about Japanese radiation fallout.
The second was that potassium in bananas is radioactive.
The third was that irradiated food was poisoning us with radiation.
I'm glad that you provided Nancy with a nice explanation of the differences.
It just amazes me at how much the US public does not know or understand, and not necessarily by their own fault.
Thank you for taking the time to help.
3-17-2011 @9:35PM Lester said... This is just plain silly. Did any of these people watch their TV's? The farms within the range of the plant that could end up with radioactive exposure were wiped out. There are blizzards there now too. What exactly do people imagine is growing on the open ground in the fallout area that could arrive on their table? C'mon now. Don't we have more important things to worry about? Like how about all the people who are still missing or those in shelters who don't have enough heat, water and medicine?
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3-18-2011 @7:34AM ME said... my god a voice of reason! almost couldn't heard it over all the idiotic drooling going on.
3-18-2011 @8:15AM yohan said... 'It's only a flesh wound'!
3-18-2011 @6:26AM k said... How do you people sleep at night? You don't care what kind of junk you're passing off as news as long as it's sensational enough to get you a hand ful of dollars. You'll scare the hell out of the gullible readers just so you can make your deadlines and bilines, never caring if is any truth whatsoever in the crap you're writing,. Corruption has your name on it.
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3-18-2011 @7:02AM Sunday said... Get help for that so you can get past it. That was something that happened many, many decades ago. These people are innocent. Shame on you. You need help, my dear. Sick.
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3-18-2011 @9:29AM LARRY said... ARE YOU KIDDING ME.. 500 MILES IS NOTHING..
IT CAN BE TRANSPORTED IN HOURS OR
MINUTES..THIS ISN'T HORSE AND BUGGY DAYS.!!
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3-18-2011 @11:56AM Brace said... Radiation in food is good. It kills all the harmful bacteria and will cure colon cancer. I think it should be in all our foods.
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3-18-2011 @1:31PM wasatchgirl said... Have they harvested or exported anything since the disaster? It seems to me that nothing has been business as usual since the earthquake. These people are just trying to survive! Most of the shipments ready to go would have been destroyed by the tsunami anyway. It seems like the media is, yet again, trying to sensationalize and stir up drama and fear. You really can't believe anything you see or hear as reported by the mainstream media!
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3-18-2011 @1:37PM Diane said... Other countries are banning all food imported from Japan. Why isn't our government doing the same? Demand that they ban all food stuffs from Japan immediately!!!
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3-18-2011 @2:14PM ed baggett said... Michele Bachmann is one cause for rumors..remember death panels for the old people ? now it's radiation in food...and teabagger Glenn Beck says the end of the world is near....
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3-18-2011 @6:10PM Brian Workman said... Don't eat that Overly Radiated Sharks Fin Soup!!!!
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3-22-2011 @10:36AM Fathertimema said... As we all know we can't believe a word Washington and Japan goverment says about how safe Japan food really is. Only a fool would buy food from Japan. Even before this nuke problem in Japan I would NEVER buy food made or pack from another country.
Always look at the container and see where the food comes from.
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