Thanks for signing the Fukushima Fallout Food Safety Petition. This message is to update you and also to ask for much-needed help. It's something we don't often do however it's crucial to ask now, because the problem extends far beyond Fukushima. There's nothing like an ongoing 35-state US food recall to rally support, which is needed now.
Amidst the crazy news cycle yesterday, September 11th, was a report of shrimp recalls in Arkansas. The bags of shrimp listed all have "best buy" dates of 2027 and may still be in some stores. Clearly, the problem is ongoing, even if the exact cause of the recalls has not yet been verified with any certainty.
Food recalls happen all the time, but this is frightening. Alarms about frozen shrimp feared to be contaminated with radioactive cesium 137 hit on August 18th and here we are nearly one month later. Multiple brands and stores including Walmart and Kroger have been impacted. At least one bag of frozen breaded shrimp tested positive for the radionuclide, as well as shipping container(s). Martha Stewart Living reported twice on the recalls, most recently informing readers that ingestion of cesium 137 is distributed in soft tissues and especially muscle tissue, potentially increasing a person’s cancer risk. (People must also understand that the heart is a muscle, and cesium 137 is linked to heart disease, and myocardial problems, in addition to cancer, autoimmune disorders, and diabetes.)
Shrimp tested at 68 Becquerels per kilogram for Cs-137 led to FDA issuing a Class II alert. It’s important to note that 68 Bq/kg would NOT be allowed for children in Japan (50 Bq/kg is their maximum), however kids in the US are still allowed 1,200 Bq/kg, the same as adults. The 2013 FDA Citizen Petition remains open for comment (see link in signature line below) and continues to ask that the 1,200 Bq/kg level be significantly lowered immediately. There is no safe dose of ingestion of radiation, per the National Academy of Sciences BEIR 7 report.
So just what is the source of the contamination? The Associated Press reported it “may be” from an industrial site in Indonesia, per the International Atomic Energy Agency. Tim Deere-Jones, a marine biologist and transport safety consultant based in the UK, points to the illegal fishing trade that operates in areas impacted by Fukushima radioactive wastewater. Anchovies, sardines, and more marine life are used as a source of feed for farmed shrimp in Indonesia. Also, there is definitely risk, if not now but certainly in the near future, of shrimp industry trade to the US (from eastern Japan by way of Indonesia). Clearly, there must be far better monitoring of food so that more recalls won't be necessary.
A reporter recently asked if the ongoing shrimp recalls are a surprise. She wanted to know if this is an "I told you so" situation, due to FFAN repeatedly warning about radioactive contamination of food since 2011. The bottom line is that consumers have a right-to-know what is in the food we eat, and feed our families.
Please give now to help FFAN continue to educate the government, the media and public about the need for FDA to act now on the Citizen Petition. The petition is written in good, clear language and provides crucial steps to better protect the public. Please use this link on the National Institute for Science, Law and Public Policy's Givelify page. NISLAPP is FFAN's fiscal sponsor. A donation of any amount is very much appreciated, please be sure to indicate that the donation is for Fukushima Fallout Awareness Network.
Most people reading this message will not donate, so it's really up to you and a few others like you to heed the call. If you've already helped out at some point, thank you again, and please consider giving today.
Take care,
~Kim
Kimberly Roberson
Project Director, FFAN