By Iain MacIntyre
Released for sale in August, the device can test about 200 cardboard boxes filled with food in just one hour. Tokyo-based Fuji Electric has unveiled a device which can detect radiation in foodstuff within 12 seconds and without the need to prepare samples or even remove the subject matter from its packaging.
The unit can test foods placed on its conveyor belt to dimensions of 500mm x 500mm x 1000mm. Its highly-sensitive gamma-ray detector tests for such elements as radioactive iodine and cesium.
Given the continuous nature of the operation and the avoidance of time-consuming and labour-intensive pre-testing preparations, Fuji Electric claims it has removed tens of minutes from the previous best testing process.
It is understood the device can test about 200 cardboard boxes filled with food in just one hour.
Released this August, with shipment scheduled to commence in early September, the ¥4.3 million (about NZ$66,000) unit is targeted to achieve 500 sales during the rest of this year.
The development has been necessitated by the fear of radiation contamination in Japanese food following damage to nuclear reactors during the recent earthquake and tsunami disaster. Fuji Electric says its ideal use is for testing grains, vegetables and meat at food production, handling and distribution centres.
