High radiation found in Japanese spinach and milk

Source: Market Watch

The Japanese government said Saturday abnormally high levels of radioactive materials have been found in spinach and milk at farms as far as 70 miles from the crippled nuclear power plant, according to news reports. The government pleaded for calm, stressing that levels were still relatively low. Japan is the world's largest net importer of food and any concern over domestic agriculture is likely to worsen the trend. The tainted food products come from a fertile agricultural region. Tokyo Electric Power Co said it would offer compensation to farmers. The utility continued its efforts to cool the damaged reactor. A transmission line has been connected to one reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi plant.