Japan’s efforts to prevent the spread of produce contaminated with radioactive matter have taken a hit with the discovery of high levels of radioactive iodine in cabbages imported into Singapore.
“The Singapore authorities sent reports on measurements of food imported from Japan, namely cabbages… some samples were over the Codex Alimentarius values recommended for international trade,” Dennis Flory of the International Atomic Energy Association told Reuters.
According to a report by the news agency, one sample in Singapore was nine times over the Codex level for radioactive iodine of 1000 becquerels per kg. Other samples were also over this level, but not by as much.
The discovery comes despite an effort by Japanese authorities to contain the spread of contaminated produce, with the Kyodo news agency recently reporting the government had adopted rules prohibiting the distribution of food products with excessive readings of radioactive matter.
The government has also stopped shipments of vegetables and milk from areas surrounding the stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant, the news agency reported.
Singapore has now extended its current ban on produce from nine prefectures in Japan possibly affected by radiation contamination to include Shizuoka, which is located in the Chibu region.
