Fear is spreading faster than contamination following leaks of radioactive material at the damaged nuclear power plant in Japan. While the situation is changing rapidly, so far any potential threat to food, water and air safety remains minimal.
Food Supply
Japan has one of the world's best food safety systems and imports more food than it exports, but some nations have expressed concerns that foods produced in Japan might be contaminated with radioactive material. Asian countries surrounding Japan are testing food imports. Australia and the European Union announced that they would be conducting tests as well, and Italy has put a temporary ban on all food coming from Japan.
Japan Nuclear Crisis Raises Food, Water Anxieties
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If you don't think this is serious, then may I present the radioactive boars.
Even worse, though, almost a quarter century after the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown in Ukraine, a good chunk of Germany's wild boar population remains slightly radioactive -- and the phenomenon has been costing the German government an increasing amount of money in recent years.
According to the Environment Ministry in Berlin, almost €425,000
($555,000) was paid out to hunters in 2009 in compensation for wild boar meat that was too contaminated by radiation to be sold for consumption. That total is more than four times higher than compensation payments made in 2007.
A Quarter Century after Chernobyl: Radioactive Boar on the Rise in Germany - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News - International
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