Measurement results for radioactive materials in agricultural, forestry, and fishery products in Aomori Prefecture

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　The prefecture has been conducting surveys on all major articles since July 2011, and since 2017, based on national guidelines, surveys have been conducted sequentially according to harvest and fishing seasons, focusing on the following articles.

　・Major articles of agricultural and forestry fishery products produced in the prefecture that are exported or expected to be exported to foreign countries.
　　(Rice, Chinese yam, Apple, Grape)
　・Wild mushrooms and fishery products that are difficult to cultivate and manage.

＜Fishery products＞

　The Fishery products survey is conducted in cooperation with the national government (Fisheries Agency). Please click on the link below to see the results of the survey. Aomori Prefecture Fisheries Promotion Division, "Results of Survey on Radioactive Substances in Fishery Products".

＜About survey items that were conducted in the past＞

・Beef
　Since August 2011, we have conducted blanket testing to confirm the safety of our cattle, and as a result of testing approximately 160,000 cattle to date, no radioactive substances have been detected, so testing will be terminated in 2019.
　(You can search and view the results of the inspections to date on this website.)

・Foods in market
　Foods distributed in the prefecture had also been tested since 2011, but because all the samples except for wild mushrooms produced in the prefecture were below the standard values, the survey was terminated in 2018 following the revision of the national guideline.
　(Investigations are ongoing because Radioactive Cesium was detected previously in wild mushrooms in the prefecture that exceeded the standard.)
　Please click on the link below to see the results of previous inspections.　 Aomori Prefectural Public Health and Sanitation Division, "Radioactive Substance Inspection of Foods in Market"

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＜About the measurement method＞
・Measurements are performed using a germanium semiconductor detector or a NaI(Tl) scintillation detector.
・The measurement with NaI(Tl) scintillation detector is based on the "Screening Method for Radioactive Cesium in Foods" of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan.
・The instruments used at each measurement location are shown in the table below. Please click the remarks column of each test result to see the measurement location.

＜Measurement Results＞
・"Not detected (<*. *)" is displayed when the measured value is below the detection limit. (<*. * is the detection limit)

[Supplement: Wild mushrooms]
　　・Until FY2018, Wild mushrooms measurement results are uniformly listed as "No detection (<5.0)" if the detection value is lower than 5 Bq/kg.
　　・From 2019 onward, the measurement results of the testing institutions are shown.

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＜Wild mushrooms＞
　In October 2012, Radioactive Cesium exceeding the standard values was detected in Lactarius volemus (Towada City), Ramaria botrytis (Hashikami Town) and Sakura shimeji mushroom (Aomori City). The Japanese government has issued a request to restrict shipments of mushrooms. (Towada City and Hashikami Town: as of October 26, 2012, Aomori City: as of October 30, 2012).
　In addition, on September 20, 2013, Radioactive Cesium exceeding the standard value was detected in Sakura shimeji mushrooms in Ajigasawa town, and the government ordered to restrict shipments of wild mushrooms in the same town on October 1, 2013.
　The shipment restriction of wild mushrooms other than a few articles such as Armillaria mellea is still in effect.
　　(For more information on shipping restrictions, please click on the link below.) Aomori Prefecture Forestry Division, "Restrictions on Shipments of Wild Mushrooms"
　Please do not collect, sell, or eat any of the remaining restricted articles.
　The prefecture will continue to inspect wild mushrooms in these four cities and towns intensively, with the aim of lifting the shipping restrictions.

＜Pacific cod＞
　On June 19, 2012 (inspection by the prefecture) and August 9, 2012 (inspection by Iwate Prefecture), Radioactive Cesium exceeding the standard value was detected in Pacific cod caught in the Pacific Ocean waters of Aomori Prefecture, and a request for shipment restriction was issued by the government on August 27, 2012.
　Thereafter, we conducted an inspection to lift the shipping restrictions, and upon the inspection results satisfying the requirements, the shipping restrictions were lifted as of October 31, 2012.

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　In order to further ensure the safety and security of food products, the provisional regulation value was lowered to one-fifth of the previous value, and the value for general food products such as agricultural, forestry, and fishery products, excluding raw milk, was set at 100 Bq per kilogram. →To the new standard value

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　The results of previous surveys can be searched and viewed on this website.
　The summary of past results is also available on the "Safety and Security Initiatives".