After Radishbo-ya Co. made an inquiry to the Shizuoka Prefectural Government about the matter Monday, a prefectural official told the company not to disclose the finding due to fears the message would cause unwarranted harm to Shizuoka tea growers, adding that the prefecture would confirm the finding on its own, according to the retailer.

Radishbo-ya, for its part, sent purchasers of the tea letters informing them about the radiation and offered to recall the products.

Shizuoka is a famous tea production area.

“The official (who talked with Radishbo-ya) apparently feared that any warning issued through its website could fan public anxiety,” a prefectural official said,

The prefecture publicly said Thursday it found excessive amounts of radioactive cesium in tea leaves processed at a plant for shipment to the retailer.