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Radionuclide contamination in foods has been a public concern in Japan after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident. To estimate time and regional trends of daily intake and annual committed effective dose of strontium-90 (90Sr) after the accident, we analysed Market basket samples using a low background 2π gas-flow counter. Samples were collected from six regions, once a year from 2013 to 2018. There appeared to be little variation in estimated daily intake and annual committed effective dose of 90Sr across the time periods and regions. The estimated maximum annual committed effective dose of 90Sr was 0.00076 mSv/year, a value sufficiently lower than the intervention exemption level, 1 mSv/year, in foods in Japan. There was no noticeable difference between the range of estimated daily intake of 90Sr in this study compared with daily intake measured before the FDNPP accident. These results suggested that no obvious increase in dietary intake of 90Sr was observed after the FDNPP accident, and that the effects on commercial foods from 90Sr due to the FDNPP accident were negligible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fukushima nuclear disaster posed food safety risks on an unprecedented scale in Japan. In its immediate aftermath, information on the scale and the extent of the contamination of the food chain was scarce. Facing an anxious public, the government was tasked with defining and ensuring food safety amidst uncertainty. Via three case studies spanning from 2011 to 2020, this article draws on risk communication theory to analyze the Japanese government's response to food safety risks after Fukushima and its development over time. It finds that initial responses did not take the food-related risks facing consumers seriously. Instead, the response was aimed at mitigating the economic risks faced by producers. This increased both public confusion and uncertainty, and consumer avoidance. Over time, the government's response has improved, and elements of the policy have shifted towards more inclusive and interactive practices. Still, the article finds that ten years after Fukushima, the governmental risk communication is primarily aimed at correcting and dismissing consumer concerns while expressing certain fatigue with ongoing consumer avoidance. The article shows how the goal of risk communication changes from reassuring to correcting, and finally to closure. While the risk communication's main message remains consistent and simple – local produce is safe, eat local produce -, its target audience also differs. The article demonstrates that on top of ongoing shortcomings in terms of participation, the actual content of the government's risk communication also fails to assist in informed decision-making. Instead, the government makes the decision for the citizen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent study concludes Japan has extremely low confidence in vaccines. We examine the history of vaccination in Japan over the past 150 years to assess this study's claim of vaccine hesitancy. We find the conclusion misleading. Japan, as elsewhere, presents a mixed history of vaccine acceptance and resistance, public harm from vaccines, and social mobilization for and against them. Today, recommended routine vaccines are universally accepted. Since the 1970s, however, the mobilization of vaccine-injured victims (similar to protests and litigation by victims of pollution and food contamination) has generated significant public and official hesitancy toward some new vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Escherichia albertii is an emerging foodborne pathogen. The source of the E. albertii infection in most foodborne outbreaks is unknown because E. albertii is difficult to isolate from suspected food or water. E. albertii has a broad host range among birds and can be isolated from chicken meat. In this study, PCR assay, enrichment, and isolation conditions for detecting E. albertii in chicken meat were evaluated. The growth of 47 E. albertii strains isolated in Japan between 1994 and 2018 and a type strain was evaluated in modified EC broth (mEC) and mEC supplemented with novobiocin (NmEC) and on media containing carbohydrates. The enzyme used for the nested PCR, the enrichment conditions, the most-probable-number (MPN) method, and agar media were also evaluated with chicken meat. To distinguish E. albertii from presumptive non–E. albertii bacteria, desoxycholate hydrogen sulfide lactose agar (DHL), MacConkey agar (MAC), and these agars supplemented with rhamnose and xylose (RX-DHL and RX-MAC, respectively) were used. All E. albertii strains grew in mEC and NmEC at both 36 and 42°C and did not utilize rhamnose, sucrose, or xylose. Both the first and nested PCRs with TaKaRa Ex Taq, which was 10 to 100 times more active than the other enzymes, produced positive results in enrichment culture of 25 g of chicken meat inoculated with >20 CFU of E. albertii and incubated in mEC and NmEC at 42°C for 22 ± 2 h. Thus, the first PCR was sensitive enough to detect E. albertii in chicken meat. The MPN values in mEC and NmEC were 0.5- and 2.3-fold higher than the original inoculated bacterial levels, respectively. E. albertii in chicken meat was more efficiently isolated with enrichment in NmEC (70.1 to 100%) and plating onto RX-DHL (85.4%) and RX-MAC (100%) compared with enrichment in mEC (53.5 to 83.3%) and plating onto DHL (70.1%) and MAC (92.4%). Thus, optimized conditions for the surveillance of E. albertii contamination in food and investigations of E. albertii outbreaks, including the infectious dose, were clarified. Nested PCR sensitively (>1.2 log CFU per reaction) detected E. albertii in chicken meat. The mEC and NmEC broths at 42°C were adequate for enrichment. E. albertii was quantified by the MPN method from mEC and NmEC enrichment cultures. DHL and MAC agars with rhamnose and xylose were effective for isolating E. albertii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Japanese government approved to discharge the radioactive wastewater stored on the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean in April 2021. Given the geographical proximity between China and Japan, and the importance of aquatic foods in Chinese diet, we examine Chinese consumer's valuation of aquatic foods following Japan's plan to discharge the radioactive wastewater. With an online survey, we adopt a payment card approach to elicit consumer's willingness to pay (WTP) for two aquatic food products, each from four sources that are at different levels of being associated with radioactive wastewater. Also, given the controversy surrounding the discharge, we specify two information treatments to examine the effect of information on consumer's WTP. Our main results are both information treatments positively affect consumer's WTP for aquatic foods from freshwater and seawater aquaculture. Moreover, positive information decreases consumer's WTP for aquatic foods caught in the East China Sea, and negative information also has negative yet insignificant effect. Lastly, in general, information negatively affects WTP for aquatic foods caught on high seas. These results highlight the importance of effective public communication regarding Japan's discharge of radioactive wastewater, and it may also be used to predict changes in China's aquatic food markets. • Aquatic foods from different sources are at varying risks of being contaminated by Japan's discharge of nuclear wastewater • For foods from freshwater and seawater aquaculture, positive and negative information increase consumer's willingness to pay • For aquatic foods from the East China Sea, positive information decreases consumer's willingness to pay • For aquatic foods caught on high seas, information negatively affects willingness to pay • Effective communication of scientific information is essential for the aquatic food markets [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angiostrongyliasis is the most common cause of eosinophilic meningitis worldwide and is primarily characterized by eosinophilic meningitis, meningoencephalitis, or myelitis. It is caused by ingestion of the nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis, the rat lungworm (or apple snail). The most common route of infection is by ingestion of parts of the intermediate hosts like mollusks or food contaminated with infective third stage larvae. Following ingestion, the larvae migrate through the intestinal walls into the bloodstream and further into the central nervous system where they cause meningo-encephalo-myelitis and can have a variety of ocular manifestations. We present a case of a Caucasian United States Marine who suffered severe meningo-encephalo-myelitis with papilledema following ingestion of a raw Giant African Snail (Lissachatina lutica) while stationed in Japan. He developed eosinophilic meningoencephalitis, polyneuropathy, motor weakness, and papilledema. We describe the unique clinical features of this disease in our patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey of the contamination of foods by sterigmatocystin (STC) was performed by an analytical method based on LC-MS/MS. STC was extracted from samples with acetonitrile/water (85/15, v/v) and then purified with immunoaffinity columns. The method was validated by a small-scale inter-laboratory study using spiked wheat samples. Mean recoveries of STC were 100.3% and 92.5% from two samples spiked at 0.5 and 5.0 µg/kg, respectively. A total of 583 samples were analysed between 2016 and 2018, and STC was detected in 19.9% of all samples at >0.05 μg/kg (limit of quantification). The foods that were contaminated by STC were wheat flour, Job's tears products, rye flour, rice, buckwheat flour, white sorghum, barley products, azuki bean and corn flour. STC was not found in beer or wine. The occurrence of STC in domestic wheat flour (44.4%), Job's tears products (41.7%) and rye flour (29.9%) accounted for the three highest values. The highest mean concentrations were obtained for Job's tears products (0.3 μg/kg) and rye flour (0.3 μg/kg). The maximum contamination level was present in a sample of rye flour (7.1 μg/kg). Although the contamination levels were low, these results indicate that STC frequently contaminates Japanese retail foods. A continuous survey is required to assess exposure to STC in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The major transmission mode of hepatitis A virus (HAV) in Japan is the fecal–oral route by contaminated foods. In contrast, HAV infection is well documented as a sexually transmitted disease in Europe and North America. The present study was undertaken to determine the full‐genome sequence of HAV and trace the transmission route of HAV in Japanese men who have sex with men (MSM). Methods: In 2018, we encountered three Japanese MSM with acute hepatitis A co‐infected with HIV for 4–12 years. Serum samples obtained from these patients were used for HAV full‐genome analyses. Results: Isolated HAV strains were segregated into subgenotype IA. The three HAV strains shared 100% identity within the 481‐nucleotide partial sequence. The entire nucleotide sequence showed that the three strains were 99.97% similar to each other with only two nucleotide substitutions. At the amino acid level, the three strains differed from each other by only one or two amino acids. All three strains obtained in the present study were >99.6% identical to the 66 reported strains isolated from Taiwan and European countries during 2015–2017. In addition, these 66 strains include the RIVM‐HAV16‐090 (EuroPride) strain, which has been involved in HAV outbreaks among MSM worldwide. Conclusions: We determined for the first time the full‐genome sequence of HAV isolated from Japanese MSM with acute hepatitis A and found that the strains were identical to those from MSM worldwide. Thus, these HAV strains were imported to Japan from foreign countries through MSM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus argenteus is a novel species subdivided from Staphylococcus aureus . Whether this species can cause food poisoning outbreaks is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the enterotoxigenic activities of two food poisoning isolates suspected to be S. argenteus (Tokyo13064 and Tokyo13069). The results for phylogenic trees, constructed via whole genome sequencing, demonstrated that both isolates were more similar to a type strain of S. argenteus (MSHR1132) than any S. aureus strain. Moreover, the representative characteristics of S. argenteus were present in both strains, namely both isolates belong to the CC75 lineage and both lack a crtOPQMN operon. Thus, both were determined to be “ S. argenteus .” The compositions of the two isolates' accessory elements differed from those of MSHR1132. For example, the seb -related Staphylococcus aureus pathogenicity island, SaPIishikawa11, was detected in Tokyo13064 and Tokyo13069 but not in MSHR1132. Both isolates were suggested to belong to distinct lineages that branched off from MSHR1132 lineages in terms of accessory elements. Tokyo13064 and Tokyo13069 expressed high levels of s ( arg ) eb and produced S(arg)EB protein, indicating that both have the ability to cause food poisoning. Our findings suggest that S. argenteus harboring particular accessory elements can cause staphylococcal diseases such as food poisoning, similarly to S. aureus . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contamination of food with radionuclides has posed serious problems to consumers, producers and policy makers in Japan since the Fukushima nuclear disaster of March 2011. Many Japanese consumers were and still are worried about the safety of domestic food products. How did the nuclear catastrophe in Fukushima affect consumer trust in food safety regulation, and how did the Japanese government try to (re)establish consumer trust in its food governance system? Drawing on empirical data from a consumer survey, expert interviews and documents issued by the Japanese government and public authorities, this paper argues that existing institutions had difficulty handling the situation and rebuilding consumer trust. I will argue that consumers in Japan lack trust in government institutions and the food industry and that the government's risk communication was not suitable for rebuilding trust. This specific situation saw the emergence of new actors from civil society, such as citizens’ radioactivity monitoring stations (CRMS). These actors took over some of the functions of public authorities by providing information and monitoring food. I argue that they have the potential to build trust by fostering the participation of lay people and encouraging a more democratic discourse on food safety. Nevertheless there are some limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

With increasing food contamination incidences and rising concerns about food safety and the future of Japanese culinary traditions, shokuiku (food education) has become a central motif of the Japan government's food polices in recent years. Trying to navigate consumer choices amidst the increasingly globalised culinary scene and the food fear in the aftermath of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, the Basic Law on Food Education has interwoven discourses on health, the 'goodness' of local food, and the political ideologies of being responsible and patriotic citizens in support of the local economies of Japan. Through an empirical study of the school lunch system, this paper examines how food education policies have become an effective apparatus to instil state ideologies and promote national economic interests. Supposedly, shokuiku aims at promoting food knowledge, quality local foods and the health of the Japanese people, yet, against the backdrop of widespread radiation contamination fears, the rigid policies in food education have posed challenges to the state and generated a 'food dilemma' to be faced by many Japanese parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Between September 2011 and August 2015, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) organised a series of 12 stakeholder dialogue workshops with residents of Fukushima Prefecture. Discussions focused on recovery, addressing topics such as protection of children, management of contaminated food, monitoring, and self-help measures. The OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) supported, and the Committee on Radiation Protection and Public Health (CRPPH) Secretariat attended, all 12 meetings to listen directly to the concerns of affected individuals and draw lessons for CRPPH. To summarise the dialogue results, ICRP organised a final meeting in Date, Japan with the support of NEA and other organisations. The lessons from and utility of the dialogue meetings were praised by dialogue participants and sponsors, and ICRP agreed that some form of dialogue would continue, although with ICRP participation and support rather than leadership. This paper summarises the internationally relevant lessons learned by CRPPH from this important process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contamination levels of beauvericin and four enniatins, A, A1, B and B1, in 207 samples of wheat flour and corn grits on the Japanese market were determined by an analytical method based on LC-MS/MS. The toxins were extracted from samples with acetonitrile–water (85:15, v/v) and then purified with C18 cartridges. The method was validated in a single laboratory using spiked samples at two levels; the recovery of the five toxins ranged from 91.1% to 113.8%. Enniatin B was frequently detected in imported wheat flour (81.8%) and domestic wheat flour (85.6%), and the highest concentration of enniatin B was present in a domestic wheat sample (633 μg kg−1). In corn grits, beauvericin was found in 34% of the samples, but enniatins were not detected at all. The maximum concentration of beauvericin in corn grits was 26.1 μg kg−1. Deoxynivalenol and nivalenol in the same samples were determined by a method using an immunoaffinity column. Co-contamination of deoxynivalenol and enniatins was observed in 61% of the imported wheat samples and in 58% of the domestic wheat samples. These results suggest the need for a risk assessment for cyclic depsipeptide mycotoxins in Japan and a study on the synergistic effect of deoxynivalenol and enniatins. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Once ingested, dioxins and dioxin-like compounds are excreted extremely slowly. Excretion can be evaluated by its half-life. Half-lives estimated from observed concentrations are affected by excretion and ongoing exposure. We investigated the change in apparent half-life using a theoretical model based on exposure to dioxin and dioxin-like compounds.Methods: We carried out longitudinal measurements of the blood concentration of dioxins and dioxin-like compounds in a Yusho cohort during 2002 to 2010. We estimated the change in decay rates of 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF and octachlorodibenzodioxin (OCDD) using a second-order equation.Results: We found that the decay rate of OCDD increased, whereas the decay rate of 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF of patients with a relatively high concentration of 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF decreased. OCDD results were in accordance with decreasing levels of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds in the environment. The decay rate of OCDD in the body was affected by the decay rate of OCDD in the environment by ingestion because it was near the steady-state. In contrast, the decay rate of 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF in the body was affected less by ingestion from the environment because it was far higher than in the steady-state.Conclusion: We demonstrated that the level of 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF in the environment is decreasing. The excretion half-life is longer than the environmental half-life, thus the excretion half-life in a Yusho patient is increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 1950s, large-scale food poisoning caused by methylmercury was identified in Minamata, Japan. Although severe intrauterine exposure cases (ie, congenital Minamata disease patients) are well known, possible impacts of methylmercury exposure in utero among residents, which is likely at lower levels than in congenital Minamata disease patients, are rarely explored. In 2014, the authors examined neurological and neurocognitive functions among 18 exposed participants in Minamata, focusing on fine motor, visuospatial construction, and executive functions. More than half of the participants had some fine motor and coordination difficulties. In addition, several participants had lower performance for neurocognitive function tests (the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure test and Keio version of the Wisconsin card sorting test). These deficits imply diffuse brain damage. This study suggests possible neurological and neurocognitive impacts of prenatal exposure to methylmercury among exposed residents of Minamata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Great East Japan Earthquake on 11th March 2011 and the subsequent Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant disaster caused radioactive contamination in the surrounding environment. In the immediate aftermath of the accident the Government of Japan placed strict measures on radio-contamination of food, and enhanced radio-contamination monitoring activities. Japan is a pilot country in the WHO Foodborne Disease Burden Epidemiology Reference Group (FERG), and through this initiative has an opportunity to report on policy affecting chemicals and toxins in the food distribution network. Nuclear accidents are extremely rare, and a policy situation analysis of the Japanese government’s response to the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear accident is a responsibility of Japanese scientists. This study aims to assess Japan government policies to reduce radio-contamination risk and to identify strategies to strengthen food policies to ensure the best possible response to possible future radiation accidents. Methods and Findings: We conducted a hand search of all publicly available policy documents issued by the Cabinet Office, the Food Safety Commission, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW), the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery (MAFF) and prefectural governments concerning food safety standards and changes to radiation and contamination standards since March 11th, 2011. We extracted information on food shipment and sales restrictions, allowable radio-contamination limits, monitoring activities and monitoring results. The standard for allowable radioactive cesium (Cs-134 and Cs-137) of 100 Bq/Kg in general food, 50 Bq/Kg in infant formula and all milk products, and 10 Bq/Kg in drinking water was enforced from April 2012 under the Food Sanitation Law, although a provisional standard on radio-contamination had been applied since the nuclear accident. Restrictions on the commercial sale and distribution of specific meat, vegetable and fish products were released for areas at risk of radioactive contamination. Monitoring of radioactive materials in food products in the prefectures has been mainly conducted before shipment to restrict the distribution of radio-contaminated foods. Between March 2011 and March 2012, 133,832 tests of non-commercial and commercial products were conducted, and 1,204 tests (0.9%) were found to violate the provisional standards. Since April 2012, 278,275 tests were conducted, and 2,372 tests (0.9%) were found to violate the revised standards. MHLW assessment of representative market baskets of foodstuffs at 15 locations throughout Japan between February and March 2014 found very low estimated dietary intake of radioactive cesium (0.0007–0.019 mSv/year), as did assessments of the contents of an average day’s food. Monitoring of fisheries products in coastal areas affected by the nuclear accident found very limited and declining radio-contamination of live fish outside of Fukushima prefecture. Fisheries monitoring is of limited geographical scope and covers only certain fishes. Conclusions: Area-specific bans on production and distribution have been effective in preventing radioactive contamination in the Japanese food market. Currently there is no major concern about radioactive cesium concentrations in retail foodstuffs in Japan, and very low levels of contamination at the production and wholesale stage. However, because the residue limits and food safety policies were revised on an ad hoc, emergency basis after the nuclear accident, the monitoring procedure needs to be reviewed based on objective and scientifically rational criteria. A transparent and objective scientific framework is needed for prioritizing foodstuffs for inspection and revising Prefecture-specific restrictions. Monitoring of fishes and other seafood products in the wild should be regularized and the information made more publicly accessible, and monitoring activities expanded to identify foodstuffs that are no longer a food safety risk. Consultation with producers and consumers should be more formalized to ensure their concerns are incorporated into regular policy reviews in an appropriate and transparent manner. However, despite the limited available knowledge on best practice in food control and enforcement of provisional radio-contamination limits after the accident, current Japanese policy is sufficient to protect the Japanese public from major risk of radio-contamination from the commercial food market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contaminated bread was the cause of a large-scale outbreak of norovirus disease in Japan in 2014. Contamination of seafood and uncooked food products by norovirus has been reported several times in the past; however the outbreak resulting from the contamination of bread products was unusual. A few reports on the presence of norovirus on bread products are available; however there have been no studies on the viability and heat resistance of norovirus on breads, which were investigated in this study. ce:italic>/ce:italic> strain 1 (MNV-1), a surrogate for human norovirus , was inoculated directly on 3 types of bread, but the infectivity of MNV-1 on bread samples was almost unchanged after 5 days at 20 °C. MNV-1 was inoculated on white bread that was subsequently heated in a toaster for a maximum of 2 min. The results showed that MNV-1 remained viable if the heating period was insufficient to inactivate. In addition, bread dough contaminated with MNV-1 was baked in the oven. Our results indicated that MNV-1 may remain viable on breads if the heating duration or temperature is insufficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large-scale food poisoning caused by methylmercury was identified in Minamata, Japan, in the 1950s. The severe intrauterine exposure cases are well known, although the possible impact of low-to-moderate methylmercury exposure in utero are rarely investigated. We examined neurocognitive functions among 22 participants in Minamata, mainly using an intelligence quotient test (Wechsler Adults Intelligent Scale III), in 2012/2013. The participants tended to score low on the Index score of processing speed (PS) relative to full-scale IQ, and discrepancies between PS and other scores within each participant were observed. The lower score on PS was due to deficits in digit symbol-coding and symbol search and was associated with methylmercury concentration in umbilical cords. The residents who experienced low-to-moderate methylmercury exposure including prenatal one in Minamata manifested deficits in their cognitive functions, processing speed in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds have half-lives typically between 7.2 years and 15 years. Our previous study of patients poisoned by extremely high concentrations of 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran (PeCDF) in the 'Yusho incident' in 1968 found that in some the half-life of blood 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF tended towards infinity. This suggests that there are two groups of Yusho patients, those with 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF half-lives around 10 years, and those with half-lives near infinity. We sought to establish the proportions of each in a cohort of 395 Yusho patients, and whether the proportions were changing over time.Methods: We undertook longitudinal measurement of the blood concentration of 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF in our cohort between 2002 and 2010. We estimated the change in concentration for each patient using linear regression for measured 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF concentration, then compared the distribution of changes in concentrations with our previous study.Results: In patients in whom the blood concentration of 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF exceeded 50 pg/g lipid, the proportion 8.0% of patients exhibiting half-lives less than 13.3 years fell compared with our previous study (28.2%), while the proportion with near infinity half-lives increased.Conclusion: The prolongation of the half-lives was likely a consequence of age-related factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nature of food risk in Japan has undergone a qualitative change in recent years. This article synthesises insights from psychology, economics, and political science into an interdisciplinary risk approach to show how international relations impact consumer decisions in Japan by outlining how food risks are constructed and framed within existing narrative frameworks. To this end, the article employs two case studies: thegyōzaincident in 2008, when poisoned dumplings imported from China caused ten people to fall ill, and contaminated beef incident in 2011, in which five people died and dozens more were hospitalised after consuming raw beef tainted due to industrial negligence. These cases are analysed in the context of Japan's low rate of food self-sufficiency, deteriorating Sino-Japanese relations and the ‘China threat theory’, and perceptions of food safety. The article shows how, despite suffering recent major domestic food contamination incidents and lethal domestic food terrorism, Japanese food is perceived as safe and healthy whereas imported food, and especially Chinese food, is perceived as dangerous and unhealthy. This is exemplified in the domestic response to the two cases: thegyōzaincident led to a national outcry, mass hysteria, and calls for a ban on Chinese food imports. Conversely, the raw beef contamination incident – the deadliest case of food contamination in Japan since the 1990s – saw a far more mixed response, as industry, media, and consumers called for the government to allow individuals to take on self-responsibility to mediate their own risks regarding (domestically produced Japanese) food. The article concludes by pointing out that, while behavioural sciences can tell us important things about risk, the political and international context must also be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article extends the literature on consumer reactions to national disasters. Because of the 2011 accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, Japanese consumers face the long-term risk of radioactive product contamination as products come from contaminated regions. When facing this risk in purchase situations, Japanese consumers have the choice of reducing their purchases to protect personal health from perceived risk or increasing their purchases to economically support suffering Japanese regions. Based on analysis of variance and regression analysis of data on mobile phones and fast food restaurants from 99 consumers in Japan and 677 consumers in the United States, this study confirms that consumers respond to the risk of radioactive product contamination by reduced or increased purchase intent. Moreover, it finds that purchase intent reductions (vs. increases) vary by consumer age and are more pronounced for fast food restaurants than mobile phones, for non- Japanese consumers in Japan and the United States than for Japanese consumers in Japan, and for more health-conscious consumers. While purchase intent reductions only weakly depend on cultural values, they tend to be positively influenced by uncertainty avoidance and negatively influenced by individualism, masculinity values and long-term orientation. This article thus informs policy makers and marketing managers on how to more effectively address psychological needs of different consumer segments to support the economic reconstruction of disaster-stricken regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus argenteus has been recently established as a novel species of Staphylococcus aureus complex. It is known to cause various human diseases, such as skin and soft-tissue infections, sepsis, and staphylococcal food poisoning, although the source of infection has not been clearly described. In food poisoning cases, the source of bacterial contamination in food is unknown. This study examined the prevalence of S. argenteus among retail fresh food and poultry slaughterhouses in Japan. Among 642 food samples examined, successful isolation of S. argenteus was achieved in 21 of 151 (13.9%) chicken samples. No isolations from pork, beef, fish, or vegetables in retail markets were confirmed. Multiple-locus sequence typing revealed that the 21 isolates were classified into four sequence types (ST) that were divided into 14 subtypes using spa -typing. All food isolates were susceptible to methicillin and did not show positivity for the Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene. When bacteria were isolated from two poultry slaughterhouses in the same region, 14 S. argenteus strains were successfully isolated from only one slaughterhouse. Thirteen of 14 strains were isolated from a poultry carcass and slaughterhouse environments during a certain sampling period and were all classified as ST5961 with identical spa -type. Also, the number of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) detected on the core genomes of the same 13 strains were between 0 and 17, suggesting a long-term inhabitation of an S. argenteus strain inside the facility. Furthermore, one isolate from chicken meat was also genetically linked with the same lineage of slaughterhouse isolates, with ≤15 SNVs being detected. Additionally, one slaughterhouse isolate from chiller water and three chicken isolates were classified into the same cluster by phylogenetic analysis, although the number of pairwise SNVs ranged from 62 to 128. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study that demonstrated S. argenteus in a food processing facility and the possible bacterial contamination on food during food processing. • Staphylococcus argenteus was isolated from chicken meat and slaughterhouse samples. • Twenty-one isolates from chicken meat were classified into 14 genotypes. • Sequence type 2250, a clone spreading globally, was not a predominant genotype. • WGS showed possible bacterial contamination of chicken meat in the slaughterhouse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the presence of acrylamide in roasted barley grains, and assessed the correlation between acrylamide concentration and colour, and also examined acrylamide decrease during storage. Acrylamide concentrations in 45 commercially available roasted barley grains were analysed. The mean and standard deviation were 0.24 and 0.08 mg kg-1, respectively. The CIE colour parameter a* value had little correlation with acrylamide concentration in roasted barley grains; however, the L* and b* values showed correlations with acrylamide concentration in the grains, yielding a correlation coefficient of 0.42 and 0.40, respectively. Darker-coloured roasted barley grains with lower L* values may contain lower amounts of acrylamide. Although acrylamide concentration decreased by 40% in the grains, and decreased by 36% in the milled grains (teabag form) after 309 days of storage at room temperature a significant difference in the rate of acrylamide decrease was not observed between the grain and teabag forms. The data obtained in this study are of importance to the risk assessment and management of acrylamide exposure in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methylmercury (MeHg) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are environmentally persistent neurodevelopmental toxicants. In Japan, the most common source of human exposure is the consumption of contaminated fish and seafood. We investigated the accumulation of MeHg and PCBs in the brains of dams and offspring mice maternally exposed to MeHg and/or PCBs. Pregnant mice (C57BL/6Cr) were assigned to one of four exposure groups: control, MeHg alone (MeHg in diet at 5 mg/kg as Hg), PCB alone (Aroclor1254 by gavage at the dose of 18 mg/kg body weight/3 days) and MeHg+PCB. Levels of MeHg and PCBs were measured in the whole brains of dams and offspring mice on postnatal day 21 (PND21) and at 9 weeks of age. Total mercury, MeHg and PCB congener concentrations were determined by CVAAS, GC-ECD and HRGC/HRMS, respectively. For the mercury concentrations, there were no significant differences between MeHg alone and MeHg+PCB except for pups at 9 weeks. The maternal PCB levels were not significantly different between MeHg+PCB and PCB alone. In pup brain on PND21, MeHg+PCB resulted in a significantly higher PCB level than PCB alone. Although the levels of lightly chlorinated (= 4CBs) homologues were lower for MeHg+PCB than for PCB alone, those of highly chlorinated (>= 5CBs) homologues were significantly higher on PND21 for MeHg+PCB. The PCB composition in dams and pups shifted to higher chlorinated homologues compared with the composition of administered Aroclor1254. For these reasons, further detailed studies are necessary to clarify the interactional effects of PCB metabolism after coexposure to MeHg and PCBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability ofL. monocytogenesto grow in a series of Japanese ready-to-eat (RTE) foods, including boiled baby sardine and Japanese pickle, was tested at two different refrigeration temperatures. In RTE foods in whichL. monocytogenescan grow, growth was significantly higher at 10°C than that at 4°C during their shelf lives and growth patterns varied extensively among the different types of foods. However, growth did not occur at 4°C within the shelf life of certain RTE foods, such as broiled squid. The patterns of growth were varied extensively with different sample types. These results suggest that some types of traditional Japanese RTE foods stored at 10°C may be potential sources of listeriosis. To reduce the risk of food-borne listeriosis, studies to determine the contamination levels in RTE foods and the effects of storage temperature on their shelf lives are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The National Food Surveillance System in Japan was formed in 1998 to monitor the contamination of retail foods with bacterial pathogens. Approximately 2000–3000 samples were tested annually, and the data from food categories that had more than 400 samples collected during 1998–2008 were analysed. With regard to meat, the frequency of positive samples forSalmonellain chicken for raw consumption and ground chicken was 12.7% and 33.5%, respectively. Moreover, Shiga toxin-producingEscherichia coli(STEC) O157 was found in ground meat, organ meat and processed meat, although at a low frequency (0.1%). The prevalence ofCampylobacter jejuni/coliwas 13.3% and 20.9% in chicken for raw consumption and ground chicken, respectively. In vegetables and fruit,Salmonellawas detected in cucumber, lettuce, sprout and tomato samples at a frequency of around 0.1–0.2%. With regard to seafood,Salmonellawas found in 0.5% of oysters for raw consumption. Seafood was not contaminated with STEC O157 orShigella.Serotype Infantis was the most frequently detected serotype ofSalmonellain seafood, followed by the serotypes Typhimurium, Schwarzengrund and Manhattan. In ground chicken, 72.2% of the strains were identified as the serotype Infantis.E. coli, as an indicator of food hygiene, was detected in all food categories. The results show the prevalence of the above-mentioned pathogens in the retail food supplied in Japan; further, they indicate that consumption of raw food carries the risk of contracting food-borne infections. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: In Japan in 1968, rice-oil contaminated by polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated dibenzofurans caused severe food poisoning, termed “Yusho” (oil disease). Several previous studies attempted to evaluate the effects targeting officially-certified Yusho patients. However, these studies have several limitations such as the left-truncated nature of the registry or residual confounding arising from the referent population selection. We thus conducted an area-based standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) study using vital statistics. A severely affected area (Tamanoura area) was adopted as the exposure group, with a reference population from Nagasaki prefecture in Kyushu, which included the Tamanoura. A large number of residents in Tamanoura were exposed to the rice-oil (28% of all the certified cases as of 2009). We estimated SMRs of non-cancer and cancer diseases for the years 1968–2002. Shortly after the exposure, SMRs of all causes, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, pneumonia/bronchitis, and bronchus/lung cancer were elevated. In particular, SMRs of heart disease were 1.97 [95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.09–3.56] in 1968, 2.05 (95% CI: 1.16–3.60) in 1969, and 1.89 (95% CI: 1.05–3.41) in 1975. However, we did not observe clear increase in SMRs more than 10years after the exposure. This study provides further evidence in Yusho, especially on acute effects on non-cancer mortality. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Human sapovirus sequences were identified in 12 (100%) influent and 7 (58%) effluent wastewater samples collected once a month for a year. The strains were characterized based on their partial capsid gene sequences and classified into 10 genotypes, demonstrating that genetically diverse sapovirus strains infect humans in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Recently, the Stockholm Convention prohibited the use of toxaphene and has been reviewing endosulfan. The historical use of these pesticides may contaminate food and tend to accumulate in the food chain. In this study, to evaluate the spatial and temporal trends of food contamination, the endosulfan and toxaphene levels were measured in pooled 24-h food composite samples from Chinese (n =10), Korean (n =10) and Japanese (n =40) adults in the 1990s and 2007–2009. Endosulfan was detected in 32 of 40 samples from Japan, but its levels (sum of α- and β-isomers) were low in both the 1990s and 2009 (range as geometric mean (geometric standard deviation) [GM (GSD)]: 0.96 (1.6)–1.42 (1.4)ngkg−1 d−1). The dietary intakes of endosulfan in Seoul as GM (GSD) were 38.68 (1.3)ngkg bw−1 d−1 in 1994 and 92.17 (4.4)ngkg bw−1 d−1 in 2007, and significantly higher than those in Japan (p <0.05). The samples from Beijing showed a 50-fold increase in the endosulfan levels from 1993 (GM: 0.58ngkg−1 d−1) to 2009 (GM: 24.91ngkg bw−1 d−1) (p <0.05). Toxaphene was detected in 33 of 40 samples from Japan. The dietary intake of toxaphene in Japan (sum of Parlars #26, #50 and #62) was 0.32–1.21ngkg bw−1 d−1 (range as geometric mean) and no temporal trend was observed. The dietary intake of toxaphene in Seoul increased significantly from 0.2ngkg bw−1 d−1 (GM) in 1994 to 3.6ngkg bw−1 d−1 (GM) in 2007 (p <0.05). Only one of 10 pooled samples from Beijing contained a detectable level of toxaphene (0.3ngkg bw−1 d−1). For the entire population, the risk of adverse health effects from dietary intakes of endosulfan and toxaphene is unlikely. However, the concentrations of endosulfan in several samples exceeded 10% of the acceptable daily intake limit value of 6μgkg bw−1 d−1 set by the World Health Organization (WHO). It appears important to refine dietary intake estimates targeting food types and source identification to ensure safe food for consumers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Examination of Listeria monocytogenes prevalence among ready–to–eat foods in Japan revealed frequent (5.7 to 12.1%) contamination of minced tuna and fish roe products, and the isolates had the same virulence levels as clinical isolates in terms of invasion efficiency and infectivity in cell cultures and a murine infection model, respectively. Premature stop codons in inlA were infrequent (1 out of 39 isolates). Cell numbers of L. monocytogenes in minced tuna and salmon roe increased rapidly under inappropriate storage temperatures (from a most probable number [MPN] of 103 to 104⁄g to an MPN of 103 to 104⁄g over the course of 2 days at 10°C). Thus, regulatory guidelines are needed for acceptable levels of L. monocytogenes in these foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Between 2004 and 2007 we examined foods from Japanese retail shops for contamination with ochratoxin A (OTA) and fumonisins B1, B2, and B3. A total of 1,358 samples of 27 different products were examined for OTA, and 831 samples of 16 different products were examined for fumonisins. The limits of quantification ranged from 0.01 to 0.5 µg/kg for OTA and 2 to 10 µg/kg for the fumonisins. OTA was detected in amounts higher than limits of quantification in wheat flour, pasta, oatmeal, rye, buckwheat flour and dried buckwheat noodles, raisins, wine, beer, coffee beans and coffee products, chocolate, cocoa, and coriander. OTA was found in more than 90% of the samples of instant coffee and cocoa, and the highest concentration of OTA, 12.5 µg/kg, was detected in raisins. The concentration of OTA in oatmeal, rye, raisins, wine, and roasted coffee beans varied remarkably from year to year. Fumonisins were detected in frozen and canned corn, popcorn grain, corn grits, cornflakes, com soups, com snacks, beer, soybeans, millet, and asparagus. The highest concentrations of fumonisins B1, B2, and B3 were detected in corn grits (1,670, 597, and 281 µg/kg, respectively). All of the samples of corn grits were contaminated with fumonisins, and more than 80% of the samples of popcorn grain and corn snacks contained fumonisins. OTA and fumonisins were detected in several food products in Japan; however, although Japan has not set regulatory levels for these mycotoxins, their concentrations were relatively low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fumonisins are mycotoxins mainly produced by Fusarium verticillioides, which is a major contaminant of corn. However, there are sporadic reports of fumonisin contamination in wheat worldwide. The rice adherent fungus Gibberella fujikuroi is taxonomically closely related to F. verticillioides. Therefore, the potential risk of fumonisin contamination in rice and wheat is significant. Previously, a sensitive detection method utilizing liquid chromatography with tandem electrospray mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS-MS) was developed for the determination of fumonisins in brown rice. In the present study, the incidence of fumonisins in brown rice and wheat harvested in Japan was investigated using LC-ESI-MS-MS. Forty-eight rice samples and 47 wheat samples were screened and analyzed for the major B-type fumonisins: fumonisin B1 (FB1 and fumonisin B2 (FB2). About 1 kg of rice or wheat seed was divided into three subsamples, and 10 g from each subsample was used for the analysis. The limits of detection were 0.012 and 0.011 mg/kg for FB1 and FB2, respectively, in rice samples and 0.010 and 0.008 mg/kg for FB1 and FB2, respectively, in wheat samples. The mean (standard deviation) recoveries of FB1 spiked at 0.50 mg/kg into toxin-free rice and wheat samples were 77.6 (4.2)% and 84.5 (3.1)%, respectively. One of the wheat samples was positive for FB1 with a value greater than the limit of detection, but no fumonisin was found in any of the rice samples. This is the first report of fumonisins detected in Japanese wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unpasteurized liquid whole-egg samples were collected from six and seven commercial establishments across Japan in 1993 and 1994 and in 2005, respectively. The samples were tested for the presence of Listeria spp. and Listeria monocytogenes. Detection rates of the Listeria spp. were greatly different among the egg-breaking facilities, with a range of 8 to 55%. There was no significant difference in the contamination rate between the samples from 1993 and 1994 and from 2005. L. monocytogenes was isolated from 2 of 487 (0.4%) samples in 1993 and 1994, and 2 of 316 (0.6%) samples in 2005. These detection rates are lower than known detection rates of other livestock products (5.1 to 42%). In 2005, the L. monocytogenes-positive samples were quantified by a most-probable-number counting experiment, and the contamination levels were below 7.5 organisms per 25 g of sample. D55°C-values of 0.59 to 4.08/min were determined for L. monocytogenes isolated in this study. This heat tolerance is in a good agreement with past reports, and slightly higher than that of Salmonella. This study suggests that the legal pasteurization condition of liquid egg is sufficient to ensure microbial safety against L. monocytogenes because the contamination rate and its level are considerably low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contamination of heavy metals in food becomes a serious problem. We analyzed oolong tea from different production areas by PIXE using very simple sample preparation and examined trace elements contained in these samples. From the results of this experiment, we could know oolong tea which analyzed in this experiment contains various minerals such as K, Ca, P, S, Cl, Fe, Mn, Cu and Cr but not toxic element of As which detection limit of PIXE was lower than the standard values given by the food hygiene law in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demand for aseptically steamed rice products has been increasing rapidly in Japan over the past 10 years. In our previous study, we showed that proteolytic Clostridium botulinum produce toxins in steamed rice products packaged under a modified atmosphere of ≤0.3% oxygen. In the present study, we examined the effect of pH to control botulism risk in steamed rice products packaged under modified atmosphere (5% CO2 and 95% N2 as the balance) with the inclusion of a deoxidant pack to produce an oxygen concentration of ≤0.3%. A mixture of 10 strains of proteolytic C. botulinum (5 type A strains and 5 type B strains) was inoculated into steamed rice products at pH values between 4.6 and 6.8 prior to packaging. All samples were stored at 30°C for 24 weeks. Samples at higher pH showed earlier starts of neurotoxin production. Neurotoxin was detected after 2 weeks of incubation in samples at pH 5.4 or above, whereas it took 4 weeks for the toxin to be detected in samples at pH 5.2 to 5.3 and 12 weeks in samples at pH 5.0 to 5.1. In samples at pH 4.9 or below, no toxin was detected during the experimental period. Apparent sample spoilage did not occur before C. botulinum produced neurotoxin in most of the samples. Based on these results, we conclude that aseptically steamed rice products must be packaged at pH 4.9 or below under modified atmosphere containing ≤0.3% oxygen, with the inclusion of a deoxidant pack. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the results of a study investigating the effect of cooking process on the mycotoxin content of wheat products made from naturally-contaminated wheat in Japan. Negative health effects of deoxynivalenol (DON). DON was reduced by the boiling process. Baking wheat products also reduces deoxynivalenol content. The risk of DON exposure through consumption of wheat products was 69.5% or less.

Listeriosis is a relatively rare foodborne illness but can be life threatening with high fatality rates. In Japan, the incidence of listeriosis has been very low for the past 40 years compared with that of Western Europe and North America. We hypothesized that less Listeria monocytogenes contamination in Japanese foods would be related to the lower incidence in Japan. For this purpose, we collected data of Japanese foods contaminated with L. monocytogenes, mainly from Japanese-written reports, and reviewed them. From this review, we found that the proportion of L. monocytogenes, Listeria spp. isolation from foods in Japan is similar to those reported from other countries and that other factors might be responsible for the lower occurrence of listeriosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Japanese food self-sufficiency was only 39% on the basis of kcal in 2012, so Japan relies heavily on imported food. Hence the necessity of having international rules on the regulation of food contaminants is important especially for countries like Japan that depend on food imports. A One-Stop-Testing system is desired, in which the test result obtained from a single testing laboratory is accepted as valid worldwide. To establish this system, laboratory accreditation under international standards is a necessary step. Furthermore, the importance of supply of reference materials for internal quality control and proficiency testing for external quality control of each laboratory's analytical system is reviewed in connection with the experience of radioactive nuclide contamination resulting from the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in March 2011. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In 1968, the Yusho incident resulted in accidental exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and related compounds in Japan. This study updated the risk of mortality in Yusho patients.Methods: We obtained updated cohort data for all Yusho patients for the period 1968-2017. We calculated standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) for all-cause and cause-specific mortality over a 50-year follow-up period compared with the general population in Japan.Results: A total of 1664 Yusho patients with 63,566 person-years of follow up were included in the analysis. Among males, excess mortality was observed for all cancers (SMR: 1.22, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02 to 1.45) and lung cancer (SMR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.12 to 2.19). Among females, increased mortality was observed for liver cancer (SMR: 2.05, 95% CI: 1.02 to 3.67). No significant increase was seen in non-cancer-related mortality compared with the general population.Conclusions: Carcinogenic risk in humans after exposure to PCBs and PCDFs remains higher among Yusho patients. Our findings suggest the importance of care engagement and optimum management to deal with the burden of Yusho disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patulin is a mycotoxin mainly produced by Penicillium and Aspergillus. We investigated the incidence of patulin contamination in 179 samples of apple juice and 9 samples of mixed juice (containing apple juice concentrate as an ingredient) commercially available in the Tohoku district of Japan. Patulin was detected in 3 of 143 samples containing domestic fruits and in 6 of 45 samples containing imported products and products produced in Japan using imported apple juice concentrate. Patulin analyses were carried out using high-pressure liquid chromatography with a detection limit of 4 µg/liter. The patulin content of contaminated domestic samples (three samples with concentrations ranging from 6 to 10 µg/liter), imported samples (one sample with a concentration of 15 µg/liter), and domestic samples produced containing imported concentrate (five samples with concentrations ranging from 6 to 9 µg/liter) was lower than the maximum limit of 50 µg/liter currently adopted by many countries, including Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a case report. A 40-year-old Japanese man who presented with a whole-body rash; Finding of numerous old tattoos and one new one; How the patient had eaten raw swordfish and alfonsino two days before being seen; Tests that were performed; How the recent tattoo and the eating of raw fish combined to result in significant mercury exposure; Treatment; Various species of fish which are considered to have high levels of mercury contamination; Mercury content of the color red in tattooing.

Discusses public confidence in food safety in Japan, which has been undermined due to eight food-poisoning scares in July and August of 2000. Recall of tainted milk products by Snow Brand in July; What Snow Brand is doing in an attempt to salvage its reputation.

Discusses food poisoning in Japan which resulted from milk produced at a Snow Brand factory in Osaka which was tainted with Staphyloccocus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Escherichia coli; Results of the outbreak on the public, on Snow Brand, and on dairy factories in Japan.