Subway Restaurants Use Vegetables From Ibaraki
FTV reports on how Subway restaurants in Japan are proudly using vegetables from Ibaraki prefecture, despite radiation fears from consumers:
Ten days ago, the Japanese government placed restrictions on the sale and shipment of spinach and a few other vegetables from the areas near Fukushima after radiation tests found amounts that exceeded safety standards. Ibaraki spinach was included in the list of banned items.
Subway apparently does not use much spinach, but it does buy another leafy vegetable from Ibaraki: lettuce. They’ve decided to honor their contracts with farms in Ibaraki and use that lettuce in their subs. The lettuce is, of course, double-tested for radiation before it is shipped out. So far, tests have found amounts that are well within safe background levels.
While some consumers might be worried about buying vegetables from Ibaraki, Tochigi, and the Tohuku region, businesses like subway seem to be betting that the positive PR they get from their support of local farmers will outweigh any concerns about radiation. I’ve seen several other restaurants and shops that have put up signs proudly proclaiming that they sell or use vegetables from Tohoku. A lot of shoppers will probably be happy buying and eating those vegetables, since their actions will contribute to the economic recovery of the region.
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