Would you be willing to eat agricultural products from Fukushima Prefecture?

No. Since TEPCO controls all information regarding Fukushima and it's covered by the State Secrets Act I found it very difficult to believe anything they say.

Now, after reading this article, I find it impossible to believe anything they say:

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/05/13/national/social-issues/fukushima-land-return/#.WRjmnNzraUk

Spin, half-truths and outrights lies in a media campaign. That's all this is. I'd like to support the Fukushima people but, as Maria says, not at the expense of my family's health.

Depends on which part of Fukushima.

This is a silly question. We are talking about the whole prefecture, the majority of which was not contaminated and never will be. This type of news/speculation/questioning harms people's livelihoods, etc. It is one of the intangible consequences of the Daichi disaster.

Who are we kidding we all already are eating produce from that area "relabelled" as produce from other regions.

Yes, I do believe that Fukushima is tested/checked to a higher and stricter standard than other produce from within Japan.

zichi May 15  09:44 am JST

Now even I think that's a bad question and not even would I eat produce from the previously contaminated areas. Fukushima is a large prefecture and more than 80% of the land wasn't even contaminated. You could say, west of Fukushima City is safe. The seafood is a story in itself, since fish move about and we don't know where they are caught, only landed. In truth a bad poll, no vote from me.

Props for this attitude. A pity more posters can't be this level-headed.

It exposes the ridiculous degree of fear-mongering some people are engaged in when just the word 'Fukushima' elicits terror and conspiracy theories from them.

I already do. Lots of nice fruit and veg from Fukushima.

And to echo 5SpeedRacer5, Japan Today should stop stirring conrtoversy over Fukushima.

The question is hypothetical. For me, it would depend on the situation, so I voted maybe. No blanket yes or blanket no.

If living in Fuku near the plant and the local are growing and willing to sell to me, yes, but I support my local growers in Iwate.

thepersoniamnow May 18  07:13 am JST

Well here's the thing, I don't have to, so why would I?

Because your supermarket sells it at a good price? Because you want to support the innocent farmers whose livelihoods were destroyed and who are trying to get back on their feet with a perfectly healthy product? Because you want to spend your life making rational decisions like an adult, not being controlled by your own uninformed fears?

If I have heard 50 proven lies about Fukushima this since 2011, am I gunna believe the same political party when they have new news for me?

This could not be more false. For one thing, political parties don't label foods. For another thing The Democratic Party of Japan was in charge of the immediate aftermath of March 11, not the current LDP. You're literally attributing behavior of one group of people onto a completely different group of people.

paradoxbox Today  04:49 am JST

We cannot be sure that the food we are eating has been screened for radioactive contamination. Even if it says it has, there's no reason for anyone to believe it.

Remember when unsafe levels of radioactivity was discovered in soba noodles in Okinawa because radioactive ash from Fukushima had been unwittingly imported and used to make the noodles?

Take a moment to think through what you're saying. You believe no one in the Japanese government can be trusted to be honest about radiation exposure. As evidence, you cite a single case of food mislabeling. So as a consequence, you punish growers of food labeled from Fukushima, i.e. the people being honest with you about your food.

You could, if you were genuinely concerned about the radiation level of your food, test it yourself. The equipment is relatively cheap and easy to use. Your results won't necessarily be scientifically accurate, but do it enough and it will be close enough to put your mind at ease. But instead of taking control of what you know and choosing to get the information you complain about being unable to have, you just punish farmers who are honest about working in Fukushima, a measure that by your own evidence you admit does little to actually protect you from unnecessary radiation exposure.

Fear. Don't be ruled by it.

No. It's problematic. I would very much like to support those who are getting back on their feet and making a living in that area, but not at the expense of my health.

The fact of the matter is that I HAVE been eating Fukushima produce and a lot of people have also. It is not at matter of "would we be willing (if)...." It is a matter of most people already doing so and having no qualms about it. The burden of proof is squarely on the people who think they know more than the government, scientists, professional testers and all their technologies, and satisfied consumers. No person has ever been proven, or has even claimed, to my knowledge of being harmed by food from Fukushima as a result of radiation. It is a FALSE claim that there is any reason for caution whatsoever.

I understand that these questions are supposed to be controversial, but go be controversial someplace else and leave the fine people of Fukushima alone.

I support them being able to sell it and people having a choice, so long as it is clearly labelled, not completely subsidized with taxes (but with TEPCO compensation money), and the unsold products not mixed into foods from other regions or forced onto the unwitting via school lunches or convenience store bentos. But no, I would not buy it.

Depends where from exactly. I'm not really going to trust everything the government says about it being fine and all dandy. The lies that TEPCO tells only to change it's story years later is just disturbing.

Who knows what dangers are in the food from there?

Ok we move nuclear waste around form plant to port to disposal all around the world everyday. These transport vehicle are reused to transport other goods. They might get a wash out but they would not get deposes of along with the nuclear waste which I reckon should happen. From Cargo ship to the trucks and the slings use to lift the waste onto trucks. But they don't and carry other good in these transport vehicles. Is this cross contamination taken into account or factored in ?

No, not knowingly or willingly. But I've probably already eaten food from there in restaurants or from supermarkets without realizing it. Long lasting harmful effects, as may be with genetically modified foods, probably won't be known for some time.

Katsu 78

You may wat to eat food from Fukushima, but I hardly think me not eating produce from a nuclear disaster area, labeled by a government who lied repeatedly about the disaster and it's effects, would label others as "living in fear".

Neither I or YOU know for sure what's going on there.

Yes without any doubts because the land being used has been tested and checked.

I voted no. Unless you can have independent testing of the area and it is made clear exactly which parts are or are not being used, I would not trust nor want to try it.

The residents of the US town of Flint, Michigan (just one of many screw ups in the US and has to deal with water) was told time and again that it's water was safe. That there had been tests and the smell, look and taste was healthy. Even after independent research more then once, local doctors raising concerns of childrens health, etc., had concluded the water unsafe for human consumption, the local government, as a whole, still lied.

So no I do not out right believe the Japanese government on this or any government if it is not independently tested and made sure what "is" safe, "stays" safe, as in do not be sneaking and mixing any of the contaminated stuff with the good stuff or donating it either, as someone else on a similar article suggested.

However I do feel for the people there. Could they not do other things besides growing crops to get back on track? Now that I full heartedly support.

All crops and meats in Fukushima seem not highly contaminated with radioative substances. Some are still good but some are bad. It seems to depend on places. I don't mind if food passed examination.

No. The bioaccumulation of small amounts of toxic materials builds up over time eventually causing health problems. The longevity of Japanese is at threat the longer people disrespect science for politics. Sad to see a government not interested in the health of people but only money. It behaves like a corporate trade association not a government

Sorry I didn't mean "a society in the past". I meant that it was almost "a certainty" that the government had covered up...

I would have been more willing to eat Fukushima food if the government had not been so dishonest in its handling of the issue.

We cannot be sure that the food we are eating has been screened for radioactive contamination. Even if it says it has, there's no reason for anyone to believe it.

Remember when unsafe levels of radioactivity was discovered in soba noodles in Okinawa because radioactive ash from Fukushima had been unwittingly imported and used to make the noodles?

Sorry Fukushima but the government screwed up big time.

It is a matter of most people already doing so and having no qualms about it.

Not so much no qualms as no knowledge. I'm sure there's a very good chance of restaurants, food processors etc., buying up Fukushima produce at a good price and not bothering to inform the customer.

The burden of proof is squarely on the people who think they know more than the government,

You mean the same government that has decided second-hand smoke in public spaces is no problem, conspiracy laws to keep tabs on Average Taro is a good idea, and pro-LDP rural voters having at least twice the voting punch of non-LDP urban voters is democratic? Anyone with more than three working brain cells knows more than the current government.

no one in the Japanese government can be trusted

This.

I didn't vote because for some reason the new-version website has killed all the buttons for me, but I think I would have voted 'Maybe'. Stuff from the west of Fukushima, fine. But I'd rather not feed it to my infant grandchildren.

Alfie, I read the article but it makes no mention of TEPCO's controling all the information. Please provide links on how Fukushima disaster is covered by the State Secrets Act.

I'm quite sure your googling ability is sufficient to find a host of articles about this.

Incidentally, you seem quite keen on educating the readers of this site about such things as Yasukuni Shrine and food safety in Fukushima. Thank you for your efforts.

Well here's the thing, I don't have to, so why would I?

To be fair a lot of people have access to information and have "facts" on their side, but it takes more than that to be certain. And the reason why people are not certain, is because they are almost certain that their government would lie to them, a society it has in the past about this very issue.

If I have heard 50 proven lies about Fukushima this since 2011, am I gunna believe the same political party when they have new news for me?

I am still pretty nervous about buying and eating fish in Japan.