ID :
174038
Fri, 04/08/2011 - 09:55
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http://m.oananews.org//node/174038
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Radioactive veggie seized at Thai airport
BANGKOK, April 8 (TNA) - Thai airport authorities have confiscated vegetables from Japanese passengers after finding radioactive contamination.
According to the airport authorities, two Japanese expatriates on their return to Thailand were found this week to have carried Japanese vegetables, including hana wasabi and mitsuba, which were contaminated by radioactive substances.
Dr. Pipat Yingseri, Secretary General of Thailand's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that iodine-131, cesium-134 and cesium-134 were detected on the three-kilogram hana wasabi and the 0.5 kilogram mitsuba. Although the amount of radioactive substances was found to be within safety standards, the Thai airport authorities had seized the contaminated vegetables as a precaution.
The Thai FDA chief acknowledged that his agency is proposing raising the level of contamination to determine food safety, namely iodine-131 at 100 Becquerel per kilogram and cesium-134 and cesium 137 at 500 Becquerel per kilogram, with an official approval from the Thai Ministry of Public Health expected by April 11.
Dr. Pipat said that Thai authorities have enforced safety-checks on imported food and farm products imported from 12 Japanese provinces since a massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan's Northeast on March 11 with radiation leaks from a troubled nuclear power plant consequently. (TNA)
According to the airport authorities, two Japanese expatriates on their return to Thailand were found this week to have carried Japanese vegetables, including hana wasabi and mitsuba, which were contaminated by radioactive substances.
Dr. Pipat Yingseri, Secretary General of Thailand's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that iodine-131, cesium-134 and cesium-134 were detected on the three-kilogram hana wasabi and the 0.5 kilogram mitsuba. Although the amount of radioactive substances was found to be within safety standards, the Thai airport authorities had seized the contaminated vegetables as a precaution.
The Thai FDA chief acknowledged that his agency is proposing raising the level of contamination to determine food safety, namely iodine-131 at 100 Becquerel per kilogram and cesium-134 and cesium 137 at 500 Becquerel per kilogram, with an official approval from the Thai Ministry of Public Health expected by April 11.
Dr. Pipat said that Thai authorities have enforced safety-checks on imported food and farm products imported from 12 Japanese provinces since a massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan's Northeast on March 11 with radiation leaks from a troubled nuclear power plant consequently. (TNA)
