Japan's Meiji recalls baby milk after caesium find

BBC News, 6 December 2011

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Japanese milk powder maker, Meiji, has recalled its baby formula after discovering radioactive caesium in the product.

Shares in the firm fell 10% in early trading in Tokyo after the company announced it would recall 400,000 cans of the formula.

Meiji produces the milk, which is only sold in Japan, in Saitama prefecture, north of Tokyo.

Saitama borders the tsunami-hit prefecture of Fukushima.

The recall was started after tests found up to 30.8 becquerels of caesium per kilo of Meiji Step powdered milk.

The level is below recommended limits set by the Japanese government, but Meiji has gone ahead with the recall.

Milk powder is the latest foodstuff to be affected by radioactivity in Japan after shipments of beef were banned in August and rice in September, also for caesium contamination.