India monitoring food import from Japan for radioactive contamination

[News_Editor]

India monitoring food import from Japan for radioactive contamination

2011-03-16 18:37:35 GMT+7 (ICT)

NEW DELHI (BNO NEWS) -- India's Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) has ordered authorities to monitor food being imported from Japan for radioactive contamination, Director Sumita Mukherjee said.

Several nuclear power plants in Japan are currently in a state of emergency after an enormous 9.0-magnitude earthquake struck off its northeastern coast on Friday, unleashing a wall of water. But low levels of radiation have been released from a nuclear power plant, worrying people about a danger to health.

"I am directed [..] that following the recent earthquake in Japan and concerns of possible radiation leakage from affected nuclear plants, there is a need to increase the surveillance of food imports from Japan to ensure that they are safe for consumption," Mukherjee wrote in a signed notice.

Mukherjee said that, in a precautionary measure, food imports from Japan will need to have test samples taken to ensure they are not contaminated with radiation. These tests apply in particular to fresh products such as seafood, fruits, vegetables and meat.

The earthquake and tsunami in Japan have left more than 10,000 people killed while fears for a nuclear disaster are increasing, although officials say there is no possibility for such a disaster. A large area surrounding two nuclear power plants has been evacuated.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-03-16

[Crushdepth]

Probably still safer than eating their local stuff. He might look at microbial contamination while he's at it.