Food Safety in Japan

Is there a risk in consuming foodstuffs or drinking water when travelling in Japan?

As of 6 October, the Japanese authorities have taken more than 30,000 samples to measure levels of radioactivity in the food chain. The number of samples taken has gradually increased and currently stands at between 350 and 400 samples per day.

A system for imposing restrictions has been put in place by the Japanese Government. Food that is found to be contaminated above maximum permitted levels is not allowed to enter the market. Whilst in March some local governments recommended not to use drinking water for infants, these recommendations have now been withdrawn.

The Japanese levels for the maximum permissible contamination of radioactivity in food products are stricter than the levels recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Health Organisation. These levels are conservatively calculated. Calculations are based on an individual who is consuming contaminated products as a major part of his/her diet on a long-term basis, something that is not likely to be the case for either a foreign resident in or traveller to Japan.

Because both the risk and the consequence of sporadic ingestion of contaminated food is small, the overall health risk of consuming food in Japan, in particular for travellers, can be regarded as very low.

The European Union has not banned Japanese food products from being exported to the EU Member States. In order to assure that the EU market remains free from contamination, the Japanese authorities issue certificates that food from the affected areas does not breach the maximum permissible levels of contamination. EU Member States check imported food but so far have not found any significant contamination, with the exception of one shipment of dried tea in France, which was detected mid-June.

Recommendation of the Greek Atomic Energy Commission to the Greek citizens residing in Japan

Based on the official data mainly from the International Atomic Energy Agency, the situation at the nuclear plant Fukushima Daiichi remains very serious. The radiation levels in the Fukushima area and at least within 30 km from the nuclear plant remain increased. However in the Tokyo area and other major Japanese cities and ports, the radiation levels in these last weeks remain stable at normal figures.