By IANS,
Tokyo : The Japanese government Thursday said it was considering banning shipments of rice from an area near the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant after samples showed radioactive contamination.
“We’re considering restricting shipments of rice harvested in Onami area in Fukushima,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura was quoted as saying by Xinhua.
On Wednesday, excessive levels of radioactive cesium were found in rice harvested in the area. It was the first time such high levels of radioactive material were reported in rice since the nuclear crisis began.
Fujimura said the cesium-contaminated rice has not been put on the market.
Onami is around 60 km from the power plant, which has been leaking radioactive substances since it was hit by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.