LAUSR

Abstract After the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident in Japan, residents continue to be concerned about radiations despite strict regulations on radionuclides in foods and decontamination. We examined the trajectory of the avoidance tendency of local food among residents in the affected area. Growth mixture modelling was adapted to ten waves cohort of parents of all elementary school children (N = 1606) in the affected area (Minami soma city). The trajectory was examined for six types of food: mushrooms, milk, vegetables/fruits, meat, fish, and rice. A three-class trajectory model (Low concern adaptors, High concern adaptors, High concern maintainers) was identified regardless of the types of food. While about half of the sample was classified as high concern maintainers regarding rice, fish, and mushrooms, the proportions of the three groups were roughly equal regarding other types of food. Local food avoidance has prominently decreased five years after the accident. Multinomial logistic regression revealed that the higher the air dose rate at the place of residence at the time of the accident, the higher the probability of belonging to the high concern adaptors rather than to the low concern adaptors. Local food avoidance, which increased after the nuclear accident, decreased substantially with the lifting of evacuation orders. As local food avoidance trajectories are associated with air doses rate in the immediate post-accident residence, risk communication concerning the residence's air dose is needed.