TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan will enforce stricter limits on radioactive cesium found in food, which come between one-20th and a quarter of the current provisional limits depending on food categories, from April 1 when the new fiscal year begins, the health ministry formally decided on Friday.The new ceilings, which will come more than a year after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant crippled last March began leaking radiation, are set at 100 becquerels per kilogram of cesium for regular food items such as meat, vegetables and fish, 50 becquerels for milk and infant food, and 10 becquerels for drinking water.
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry held firm to its original proposal for the new limits, despite some criticisms that they are too harsh and could hurt food producers. Meanwhile, citizen's groups have called for even tighter regulations. Read More
