Would UNESCO endorsement be enough to correct rumours?

October 23, 2013

Japan hopes culinary honor helps Fukushima

      http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20131023_21.html

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga says he hopes UNESCO endorsement of the heritage value of Japan's traditional cuisine helps counter rumors about the safety of food from Fukushima.

Suga told reporters on Wednesday that traditional Japanese food culture is grounded in a spiritual respect for nature. He said those values are sure to be passed on to future generations if they are formally recognized by the UN body in December as an intangible cultural asset.

Suga said food producers in Fukushima Prefecture have been hit hard by rumors about food safety following the 2011 nuclear disaster.

He said UNESCO recognition of Japanese cuisine would help the government to correct that information.