Factors Associated with Refraining from Purchasing Foods Produced in Affected Areas after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Accident.

Takumi Yamaguchi,Naoki Kunugita,Itsuko Horiguchi

doi:10.3390/ijerph19063378

Abstract

After the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, food products from the areas affected by the accident suffered reputational damage worldwide. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify the factors associated with people refraining from purchasing foods produced in affected areas to avoid radioactive materials. The study also aimed to clarify the time trends for the avoidance of foods produced in Fukushima Prefecture. We used data from “A survey on consumer awareness of reputational damages” conducted by the Japanese Consumers Customer Agency and implemented statistical analysis. Even if the year since the accident differed, “living with children”, “knowing detailed information about food inspections”, and “not being able to accept radiation risk even if the level is below the standard” were commonly associated. Not only did this study reveal that some people’s risk perceptions are fixed even when new knowledge is provided, but it also suggests that the implementation of food inspection can promote reputational damage. Additionally, the avoidance of Fukushima food products was found to decrease as time passed after the Fukushima accident. The results of this study may help develop countermeasures against reputational damage to food products after future nuclear disasters.

Highlights

On 11 March 2011, an accident occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear PowerStation, which caused a mass of radionuclides to be released into the atmosphere, contaminating the surrounding environment, including the land and ocean [1]
(OR, 4.455; 95% CI, 1.673–11.858; p = 0.003), “living with elementary school students” (OR, 1.738; 95% CI, 1.316–2.897; p < 0.001), and “cannot accept even less than the standard value” (OR, 3.307; 95% CI, 2.50–4.373; p < 0.001) were risk factors for refraining from purchasing foods produced in affected areas to avoid radioactive materials
The correlation between radiation risk perception and mental health has been reported [20]. This leads to a tendency to refrain from purchasing foods produced in affected areas to avoid radioactive materials and was related to the fact that the experience of bereavement from a spouse caused a decline in mental health and increased radiation risk perception

Summary

Introduction

On 11 March 2011, an accident occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear PowerStation, which caused a mass of radionuclides to be released into the atmosphere, contaminating the surrounding environment, including the land and ocean [1]. The Japanese government set a provisional value for food and restricted the distribution of food products that exceeded 500 Bq/kg to reduce and prevent internal radiation exposure among the public [2]. As a result of this restriction, the internal radiation exposure of many. The Japanese government set a standard value for food at 100 Bq/kg to ensure safety [2], but this did not ease the trend of people refraining from purchasing food from the Fukushima Prefecture due to rumors. Food products from the Fukushima Prefecture and other affected areas that exceed the standard value are extremely limited [5], nine countries, (China, Korea, Indonesia, United Kingdom, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Russia) and five regions (Macau, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Polynesia, and the European Union) restrict the

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