Water In Okinawa Fish Port Turned Blood Red By Brewery Leak

The sea near a fishing port here was dyed an alarming shade of red on June 27 by a leak of red food coloring-dyed liquid from a nearby brewery.

Photo Insert: Beer maker Orion Breweries Ltd. doused cold water on fears raised by the leak, arguing the dye has no impact on the human body or the environment.

Beer maker Orion Breweries Ltd. doused cold water on fears raised by the leak, arguing the dye has no impact on the human body or the environment, Hiroshi Higa reported for Mainichi Japan.

According to the Nago Coast Guard Station and the company, the leaked water was from a beer tank cooling system, and was dyed red with food coloring so that it could be easily identified if it got into the tank.

It is believed that the cooling system malfunctioned and the dyed water leaked into a river about 700 meters upstream from the fishing port before dawn on June 27. City officials and the company confirmed at around 9:30 a.m. that the outflow had stopped.

The cause is being investigated. The cooling water also contains propylene glycol, a type of tasteless and odorless alcohol used as a food additive.

Orion Breweries President Hajime Murano commented that the company will take measures to prevent a recurrence, saying, "We apologize deeply for the tremendous inconvenience and concern caused."

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