7 Dec 2011

Baby milk powder withdrawn from sale in Japan

6:02 am on 7 December 2011

Radioactive caesium has been found in a leading brand of baby-milk powder in Japan, nearly nine months after the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Meiji is recalling 400,000 cans of the formula, which is sold only in Japan.

Shares in the company fell 10% in early trading in Tokyo after the announcement on Tuesday.

Meiji produces the milk in Saitama prefecture, north of Tokyo. The factory's is located 320km of the Fukushima plant.

The BBC reports the recall began 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 went ahead with the recall.

Shipments of beef were banned in August and rice in September, also for caesium contamination.