Cesium with an activity of 1 becquerel per kilogram was found in candy produced in Shizuoka Prefecture. The Japanese company supervising the 122-kilogram shipment of sweets stopped the import process, according to a report by the South Korean authorities.
This is not the first time this has happened
Last year, cesium was discovered in Japanese products four times, and deliveries were halted each time.
In its elemental state, cesium is a soft, silvery-colored, malleable alkali metal that causes a violent reaction and explosion when it comes into contact with water. It can also be found in nuclear waste generated in nuclear power plants, but it is also often used in medical diagnostic devices.
At the beginning of last July, the International Atomic Energy Agency approved the discharge of cooling water from the Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean, while diluting it sufficiently. The organization justified the decision by saying that the procedure is consistent with safety practices, and that the tritium that enters the environment in this way does not pose a special environmental risk. However, since this happened, many countries do not import fish and other food items from Japan. The European Union has allowed the import of some products subject to strict control requirements.
Cover image source: Getty Images
