SingaporeScene

Singapore bans certain food imports from Japan

By Elena Torrijos | SingaporeScene  –  Thu, Mar 24, 2011 10:10 AM SGT


 

 
People crowd at a market on a narrow street in Sendai, Miyagi prefecture on March 19. (AFP/File/Toru Yamanaka)

People crowd at a market on a narrow street in Sendai, Miyagi prefecture on March 19. (AFP/File/Toru Yamanaka)



 

 

 

 

 

Singapore has joined other foreign governments in banning food imports from areas around a quake-hit nuclear power plant in Japan.

In a statement yesterday, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said it has suspended the import of milk and milk products, fruits and vegetables, seafood and meat from the Japanese prefectures of Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi and Gunma.

The move is in line with the approach adopted by other countries such as Australia and the U.S.

Explaining its decision, AVA said it had received information that the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare had detected high radioactivity levels in raw milk and vegetables from the four prefectures.

The government of Japan warned on Wednesday that radioactive iodine over twice the safe level for infants had been detected in its tap water due to the disaster at the quake stricken nuclear plant northeast of Tokyo.

Emergency crews are continuing their battle to prevent a meltdown at the plant, which earlier had generated a radiological plume.

Assurance from local Japanese restaurants

Amid the new developments, Japanese restaurants in Singapore have been quick to reassure patrons that their food is safe.

One sign at an Ajisen Ramen restaurant outlet stated that its products " are not affected by the current situation in Japan." A spokesman for Genki Sushi said its seafood comes from fisheries in China, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, while Sakae Sushi reassured customers through a pop-up online that it enforces stringent food safety check.

Some restaurants have simply stopped bringing in Japanese produce and have started buying from other markets.

Marina Bay Sands restaurant Hide Yamomoto now buys freash seafood from Europe, Australia and New Zealand, said The Straits Times.

" We want to see what will happen over the next few weeks, but for right now, we have stopped the import of all ingredients from Japan," said the restaurant's head chef, Sho Naganuma, 31.

Even non-Japanese restaurants have switched to supplies outside of Japan. French fine-dining restaurant Les Amis now uses Australian Wagyu beef in place of the Japanese version.

" The chef felt it was safer to just go with different sources rather than rely on Japan," said restaurant spokesman Raymond Lim. " It will also ease concerns customers may have about eating Japanese food."

Meanwhile, AVA said it would continue to closely monitor and test imports of food from Japan.

To get the latest updates and information from authorities, the public may visit the Japan Earthquake microsite at www.gov.sg (www.gov.sg/japanquake) or visit AVA's site at www.ava.gov.sg.