Radiation found in tea product

April 03, 2012

A sample of Japanese green tea leaves has been found to have low radioactivity levels, but there is no health concern in consuming the product, the Centre for Food Safety said today.
 
The product is Tokan Maruko Yabuk Ta Ban Cha (Green Tea) manufactured by Ochano Maruko in Shizuoka, Japan. Its packing size is 400g and is labelled as being best consumed before July 29.
 
The centre collected the sample from a local supermarket under the regular Food Surveillance Programme on March 28.
 
Tests found low levels of radioactive substances Caesium-134 (Cs-134) and Caesium-137 (Cs-137). However, the levels do not exceed the guideline levels of the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
 
The centre said the internal dose for Cs-134 and Cs-137 from consuming the tea, even by people who consume 14g of tea daily, will not pose adverse health effects. The total internal dose for radioactive substances of high consumers for one year is less than the radiation dose received during a chest X-ray.
 
The centre has contacted the local importer and retailer. The vendor has voluntarily stopped selling the product and is offering free exchange of the affected batch. Call 2885 0331 for exchange arrangements.