FDA says food from Japan safe to eat

Manufactured food items from Japan —which is currently battling a nuclear crisis— were tested free from high levels of radioactivity, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said. Dr. Suzette Lazo, FDA chief, said there was no need to fear that manufactured products from Japan have been contaminated with nuclear radioactivity from the crippled nuclear power plants in Fukushima. She noted that the food items from the quake-stricken country imported to the Philippines were safe to eat. “There is nothing to worry about," she told reporters. Lazo said Filipinos should worry more about the effects of water from dead and polluted rivers in the Philippines, saying these have dangerously high lead content. Negative for radiation Lazo met with about 30 importers at the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) on Wednesday. The PNRI have been conducting tests on the radiation levels of products from Japan such as chocolate, noodles, tea, mik, rice, and seasonings. Lazo said the results came out negative, meaning the products were untainted by the radioactive leaks. To allay the public's anxiety, Lazo said the FDA would ask the PNRI to check other products that came in after the March 11 quake. These items would include soy products, milk, and noodles, she said. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently said it has detected higher radiation levels in some food in Fukushima, Japan saying the problem was “serious." Fukushima is home to the Daiichi nuclear plants, which were damaged by the 9 magnitude quake and tsunami last March 11. Ingesting food with high levels of radioactivity could increase the risk of cancer in the future, health experts said. Tainted food has not spread The WHO said it had found no instances that the tainted food has spread to other countries. Despite this, Japan's neighboring countries like South Korea and China have announced stricter controls for food form Japan following WHO's concern. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Tuesday night said it found high levels of radioactivity in certain food and vegetables from Fukushima area. The IAEA said spinach from 37 locations in five cities in Fukushima were contaminated. “High levels of both Iodine-131 and Caesium-137 have been measured by the Japanese authorities in spinach and some other fresh vegetables, together with Iodine-131 in milk," the IAEA advisory said. “However, as reported yesterday, distribution of food from the areas affected has been restricted. The Japanese authorities are monitoring the situation in the rest of the country. Further monitoring data will be provided by Japan to the IAEA/FAO on an ongoing basis," it added. Aside from food items, Japan’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) also revealed that contamination has been found in sea water samples taken close to the outlet of the Fukushima Daiichi plant. NISA said it would examine the radiation levels in the marine environment. Continued monitoring of imports Meanwhile, the PNRI said it has met officials from FDA, National Dairy Authority (NDA), Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to address the concern of the public regarding imported food items from Japan. In its advisory last Tuesday, the PNRI said it “will continue to conduct radioactivity measurements in food as needed." It also ordered the inspection of containers at the Port of Manila. — TJD, GMA News