Radiation-Tainted Beef Spreads Through Japan’s Markets
By Donald A. Donahue, Jr., DHEd, FACHE
Japanese agricultural officials say meat from more than 500 cattle that were likely to have been contaminated with radioactive cesium has made its way to supermarkets and restaurants across Japan in recent weeks. Officials say the cattle ate hay that had been stored outside and exposed to radiation from the ongoing Fukushima nuclear disaster. The revelations have intensified food safety concerns in Japan, underscoring the government’s inability to control the spread of radioactive material into the nation’s food. Radioactive material has been detected in a range of produce, including spinach, tea leaves, milk and fish.
See: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/19/world/asia/19beef.html
While this particular news item addresses the ongoing nuclear plant crisis in Japan, it is indicative of a more far reaching vulnerability in agricultural security and food safety. Absent a hermetically sealed building, any contamination will spread throughout the environment and appear elsewhere, potentially presenting a threat of exposure. This is true not only of leaked radioactive materials, but of antibiotics, pesticides, heavy metals, and a host of other substances. The degree of actual danger varies by the material, the concentration, the length of exposure, and the health of the individual exposed. Unfortunately, it is virtually impossible to avoid all exposure given the web of commerce and the extended food supply chain. Minimizing risk can be viewed from two perspectives: that of the producer and from the viewpoint of the consumer. Farmers, processors, transportation, wholesalers, and retail outlets can minimize risk -- and potential liability – by reinforcing security and safe handling practices. Consumers should try to stay informed of identified dangers in food supplies. Unfortunately, few Americans regularly check into this aspect of personal safety. Several agencies responsible for food and drug safety maintain a single web site resource for recalls: www.recalls.gov. Periodic review of that information can be a lifesaver.