DAMAGE CONTROL

Japan Tries to Ease Radiation Fears

Urges residents to eat food from Fukushima zone.

Now this is a tough sell. Japanese officials are urging radiation-fearing citizens to go out of their way to eat vegetables from the area surrounding the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant—as a show of support for the region. “Only safe produce is being distributed,” said the country’s chief cabinet secretary, Yukio Edano. “Please eat it.” The government has opened a special restaurant emphasizing Fukushima veggies on the menu, and high-ranking officials rushed to eat there on its opening day. Of course, not all foods from the region are safe from radiation, but officials are insisting that their monitors are weeding out the damaged goods.