@article{Ooki:242297,
      recid = {242297},
      author = {Ooki, Shigeru},
      title = {Radioactive Material Pollution in Fresh Food among  Retailers (including Consumer Co-operatives)},
      journal = {Journal of Rural Economics},
      address = {2013-12},
      number = {359-2016-18468},
      pages = {13},
      year = {2013},
      abstract = {The nuclear power plant accident resulting from the Great  East Japan Earthquake caused radioactive material pollution  in fresh food. This issue has become a social problem. This  article analyzes the need for testing by public  administrators to investigate the presence of radioactive  materials in food, especially fresh food offered for sale  by various food retailers. In addition, this article  compares the results of this test with the basic opinions  and policies of each food retailer. Food retailers' methods  of coping differ greatly. Many companies did in fact  voluntarily test their purchased commodities for  radioactive materials. Nevertheless, a program of public  inspection would certainly provide consumers with  additional confidence. This is especially required because  consumer co-operatives face difficulties while dealing with  radioactive material pollution. Because consumer  co-operatives comprise a different type of consumers, and  because many arable farmers, livestock farmers, and  fishermen have joined consumer co-operatives in the Tohoku  area, consumer co-operatives speculate about diminished  sales in the event of conducting voluntary pollution tests  on regional farmers' produce, milk, and fish. This dilemma  is further complicated by the inadequate proof that  voluntarily conducting such tests will in fact result in an  increase in sales. However, without a sampling program, it  will remain difficult to confirm food safety. Given the  critical nature of a safe food supply, it is necessary to  examine the issue of radioactive material pollution more  closely.},
      url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/242297},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.242297},
}