FDA: Food from Japan is free of radiation

By The Nation

Random tests on food imports from Japan have shown the items are free from radioactive contamination and safe to eat, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) secretarygeneral Dr Pipat Yingseri said yesterday.

After a massive earthquake and tsunami damaged a nuclear power plant in Japan, radiation leaked and caused alarm across the world.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday said the government was monitoring the radiation levels of the air and passengers and imports from Japan.

"We have proper mechanisms in place," he said.

Pipat said the FDA had sent 65 samples of Japanese food imports to the Office of Atoms for Peace (OAEP) between March 16 and March 23.

Results on 39 items showed the food was safe.

"Consumers can be assured of the food safety," Pipat said.

He said the FDA had instructed importers to be very careful when importing food from Japan's Honshu island. The food would be subject to tests. Only after tests showed it was safe could it be released for distribution, he said.

"We will try to ask the OAEP to complete the tests within 24 hours to ensure that the fruits and vegetables are still fresh enough for consumption," he said.

He believed the tests for radioactive contamination would likely remain in place for at least a month or two. The agency will first focus on fruit, vegetables and seafood.

"Later on, we will focus on snacks and candies from Japan too," he said.

In the wake of the radiation threat in Japan, a House committee on political development, media and public participation convened to discuss lessons learnt yesterday.

The committee's deputy chair, Nakhon Si Thammarat MP Nipa Pringsulaka, invited representatives from many agencies and networks to the meeting.

Foundation for Ecological Recovery secretarygeneral Witoon Permpongsacharoen said nuclear power plants, if constructed in Thailand, would come with risks.

Representatives from various networks expressed strong opposition to constructing nuclear plants. They said such plants, if needed, should be constructed in Bangkok because the capital consumed the most electricity.

"The amount of electricity consumed by three big shopping complexes in Bangkok is as high as that needed by all the people in 16 provinces," a representative said.

National Disaster Warning Council chairman Smith Thammasaroj said people who opposed the construction of nuclear power plants were not well informed enough yet.

"If people know all about the pros and cons, they will understand that it offers clean energy," he said.

Asked if the radiation leak in Japan would affect Thailand, Smith said there was no danger right now but things could change when wind started blowing from Japan to Thailand late this year.

"When the time comes, we have to check the radiation in the air again to see whether it's within safe levels," he said.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said the Thai Embassy in Japan had still not been able to contact 541 Thais known to be living in the country when the massive earthquake hit on March 11.

"Telephone services are still down in some areas," he said.

-- The Nation 2011-03-25

"Results on 39 items showed the food was safe."

"We have proper mechanisms in place," he said.

"Consumers can be assured of the food safety," Pipat said.

"Only after tests showed it was safe could it be released for distribution, he said."

"In the wake of the radiation threat in Japan, a House committee on political development, media and public participation convened to discuss lessons learnt yesterday."

"....things could change when wind started blowing from Japan to Thailand late this year."

Yeah, right.

Edited March 25, 201115 yr by Card