Japan's Shizuoka prefecture urges radiation limit review
The governor of Shizuoka prefecture, the largest tea producing region in Japan, is urging authorities to revise the provisional limit of radioactive substances in tea leaves. He cited recent tests which showed tea leaves and processed tea to be safe, despite exceeding radiation limits of 500 becquerels per kilogram. The dispute stems from the fact that same limits that apply to food also apply to tea, even though 95% of it is consumed as a drink. The authorities are currently carrying out further tests to verify the safety of the tea leaves and have promised to make a formal announcement about the safety of Shizuoka tea soon.