The Foreign Ministry held a tasting event of sweets made from Fukushima-grown fruit in Tokyo’s Chuo Ward on May 10 to promote their safety, inviting Jose Graziano da Silva, director general of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.
(From left) State Minister for Reconstruction Hiroaki Nagasawa, FAO Director General Jose Graziano da Silva and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kentaro Sonoura taste sweets made from Fukushima-grown fruit in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward on May 10.
The ministry served two kinds of sweets made from Japanese pears and apples produced in Fukushima which won the grand prize in a sweets contest organized by the city of Fukushima since 2014.
“At the moment, we don’t see any reason to raise concern about the safety of (Fukushima-made) food,” the director general said, giving high marks to the sweets he tasted. “Six years after the (2011 nuclear) accident, we continue to monitor all the foods from the area affected. … We have to say that the Japanese government has been supportive and very transparent despite the difficult situation.”
Fukushima Mayor Kaoru Kobayashi who came up with the idea of the sweets contest said he highly appreciates the director general’s comments, adding he hopes such events will help promote Fukushima-made farm produce and dispel their negative reputation brought about by the 2011 nuclear disaster.