Thank you for signing the original Fukushima food safety petition. This is an urgent update. Last Tuesday March 11th marked the 14th anniversary of Fukushima. Now watchdog groups prepare to commemorate Three Mile Island later this month and Chernobyl next month. On average, a major nuclear accident occurs every 10 to 20 years. We're heading into year 15 of Fukushima which begs the question: how has the government prepared for the next inevitable nuclear accident, not to mention the nuclear industry plans for expansion (and yes the new reactors they want to build will create more radioactive waste).
The FDA is still stonewalling the 2013 FFAN Coalition’s Citizen Petition to lower the current outrageously high allowable levels for cesium 134 and 137 in our food. But it doesn’t end there. Fukushima radiation fell on U.S. soil on the west coast and detected as far east as Maine, Vermont, and Florida. Routine nuclear power operations (venting and wastewater dumping of tritium & more) compound the problem. Food in this country MUST be more closely examined and tested to ensure the health and safety of our communities. But I'm glad to share some promising news.
There is a significant opportunity to make our concerns heard but we need your help today because of an important deadline. On March 2, FFAN sent a letter to the new Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert Kennedy Jr. asking HHS to direct the FDA to act on the Citizen Petition because 12 years is long enough to wait. Several days later we distributed a press release about the letter. Donald Trump's February 13th executive order to create the Make America Healthy (MAHA) Commission wants information that will help them form a strategy to confront chronic illnesses in children and we have about 70 days to make that deadline. The petition absolutely needs more comments ASAP.
This isn't only about Fukushima, far from it. Three Mile Island and especially Chernobyl impacts are still being assessed due to transgenerational DNA damage. So when someone says we still need to find out how Fukushima hurts us and our children, we already know what radioactive fallout does.
Take action now by:
1) Commenting to the FFAN Coalition Citizen Petition to FDA. You'll find the link below but first, know that if you come to message that "comments are closed" they aren't. FDA Dockets Management stated on a call that comments are still open. Yes, there are still people working to manage Citizen Petitions, which are legal documents. So be sure to follow this link then the prompts after commenting (be sure to check the box for notification that your comment was received). This is your time to engage and be a part of government policy taking shape. Sure would be nice for some good news, wouldn't it? Here's our chance.
2) Alerting the #MAHA movement. Actually, some already know but those in charge need to hear from directly from you now. Last year Moms Across America reprinted my op-ed on the Citizen Petition and shared their own concerns with their extensive membership. However, we need comments on the op-ed so they know people actually care. A few sentences is all it takes, keeping to the topic of the op-ed HERE.
3) See the new FFAN 311 factsheet HERE for writing and talking points.
Thanks so much for your time! We can do this!
~Kim
Kimberly Roberson, Project Director
Fukushima Fallout Awareness Network
Twitter X @FFAN4u, @RadFreeFoodie; Instagram @FukushimaFalloutAware
BlueSky @FFAN4u.bsky.social