No Complaints Of Radioactive Shrimp In Malaysia Fisheries Dept

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The National Fisheries Department said it has not received any complaints regarding radioactive contamination in local seafood products, but would send samples to the National Nuclear Agency for further investigation if the need arises.
The department was responding to the United States’ Food and Drug Administration’s discovery of radioactive contamination of Caesium-137 in frozen shrimp imported from Indonesia. 
A significant portion of Malaysia’s seafood products, including shrimp, are harvested from the same waters as Indonesian seafood. 
The Fisheries Research Institute’s impact and assessment research director, Ku Kassim Ku Yaakob, explained that the institute lacked the capacity for radioactive analysis.
“All samples related to radioactive substances will be referred to the Malaysian Nuclear Agency,” he told Malaysiakini.
Ku Kassim further explained that in 2022, the Fisheries Department and Nuclear Agency had jointly conducted a special study on the radionuclides Caesium-134 and Caesium-137 in tuna and pelagic fish in Malaysian waters.
“The results of the study showed that radioactive levels were far below the threshold potentially affecting food safety, thus confirming that local fishery products are safe to eat.
“Should there be a need for further analysis involving radioactive substances, the department will send samples to accredited laboratories under the Nuclear Agency to ensure the safety of seafood products,” he added.
According to Indonesian news agency Antara, the Indonesian government is investigating the matter and has temporarily suspended imports from PT Bahari Makmur Sejati (also known as BMS Foods), whose products have been flagged and recalled by the US government.
The agency also reported that the Indonesian Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency had found radioactive scrap metal containing Caesium-137 at a scrap metal collection site in Cikande, Banten, Java Island, where the shrimp processing facility is located. 
Caesium-137 is a man-made radioisotope often used in medical devices and measurement gauges. Traces of the element can be found in water, soil, and air worldwide. The element is also one of the main sources of radiation around Chernobyl, Ukraine and Fukushima, Japan.
Long-term exposure to Caesium-137 can lead to serious health complications, including elevated risks of cancer. - Mkini

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