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Food makers market drinks using Fukushima produce

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20131111_10.html

Japan's leading food makers are starting to market beverages and alcoholic drinks using farm products from Fukushima Prefecture.

The move is to help farmers in the prefecture who grow crops in safe areas but have been affected by concerns over food safety following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in 2011.

Kagome will start selling tomato juice made from fruit harvested in Fukushima at the end of this month. The company stopped using tomatoes from Fukushima soon after the nuclear accident.

But it says it has confirmed safety of the crop after checks over 2 years and decided to use the produce again. It introduced equipment to monitor radioactivity levels in food.

The food maker says it has responded to calls from consumers who want to support rebuilding efforts in Fukushima. The label of the product clearly shows "made in Fukushima."

Kirin Brewery is also marketing a new alcoholic drink which contains the juice of pears harvested in Fukushima.

The package also identifies the product as having been "made in Fukushima".

A Kirin official says his company wants to help the local economy by letting consumers know that pears from Fukushima are tasty.

The sales of the drink will be limited until the end of the year. The company says it will continue sales if the drink proves popular.