What The Fukushima Are You Talking About?!

I’m helping a customer pick a new brand of dog food as they say their dog has a food allergy. Processed chicken and grains are usually the two biggest culprits, so I’ve shown them to some grain-free, salmon-based food, as most dogs aren’t allergic to fish.

Customer: “No! I don’t want fish!”

Me: “Oh, I assure you, this brand actually doesn’t smell very fishy.”

Customer: “No! I won’t give him any fish.”

Me: “Is he allergic?”

Customer: “No…” *Whispers* “Fukushima.”

Me: “Huh?”

Customer: “Fukushima! All fish are irradiated now!”

It finally occurs to me they’re referring to the 2011 Fukushima Nuclear Disaster which took place about five years prior.

Me: “Oh, don’t worry! That took place off the coast of Japan and in the Pacific. This is farm-raised Atlantic Salmon from the Great Lakes.”

Customer: “No! All fish are radioactive now. No one should eat any fish ever again or you’ll get cancer!”

Me: *Pauses* “Well, fortunately, we have other options…”

After several visits, I eventually figured out her dog didn’t have an allergy; he was just very spoiled from having been fed human food his whole life.