The Japan Dairy Industry Association says its 116 member companies have detected no radioactive cesium in self-performed tests on their 131 milk products.
"The safety has been confirmed," the association said Wednesday. "We would like consumers to feel safe drinking milk."
The companies, including major players Meiji Co. and Morinaga Milk Industry Co., tested their milk products at 124 factories in January and February before the government changes the allowable cesium level for milk to 50 becquerels per kilogram in April from 200 now. No product showed levels above 10 becquerels per kilogram, the minimum measurable level.
The association voluntarily took the lead in conducting the tests in response to consumer requests for detailed monitoring even though local governments have been regularly testing raw milk.
TEAM Nihonmatsu, a nonprofit organization that independently conducts safety tests on food products, said it detected a maximum cesium level of 14 becquerels per kilogram in one milk product. It said it will maintain its surveillance of food products.