Japanese crisis: Japan urged to act quickly over radiation in food

Published on Monday 21 March 2011 17:33

Japan needs to act quickly and ban sales of food from areas around the Fukushima nuclear plant if it has excessive levels of radiation, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed that radiation in some Japanese milk and vegetables was "significantly higher" than levels allowed for consumption, and the authorities in Japan are expected to decide by today on a comprehensive plan to limit food shipments from affected areas.

A spokesman for the WHO said contaminated food posed a greater long-term risk to residents' health than radioactive particles in the air, which disperse within days.

It was the strongest statement yet from the WHO on radiation risks to ordinary people.

Radiation fears have already prompted authorities in China to test food imports from Japan.

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