"Regarding cloves, we will begin investigating, simultaneously addressing the (contaminated) shrimps issue," expert staff from the Coordinating Ministry for Food, Bara Khrishna Hasibuan, said upon being contacted here on Friday.
Hasibuan confirmed that the task force had just received a report from the United States Government about the findings of cloves contaminated by the radioactive material. Indonesia promptly responded to the finding, and an investigation will be pursued.
The US Food and Drugs Administration (US FDA) identified cesium-137 on cloves imported from Indonesia. The finding marks a new case of radioactive contamination following a similar discovery in shrimp exports in August.
The FDA stated that the contaminated cloves were from PT NJS. In response, the US has blocked all imports from that company.
In August, the FDA also found Cs-137 contamination on frozen shrimp imported by PT Bahari Makmur Sejati (PT BMS). Further investigation showed that the contamination source was from PT PMT, a steel company in Cikande, Serang, Banten Province, that processes scrap metal in their operation.
It is suspected that airborne radioactive particles from PT PMT may have spread to PT BMS’s shrimp packaging facility, located approximately two kilometers away.
Moreover, the government also found 14 containers of scraps from the Philippines, which are contaminated by Cs-137, in Tanjung Priok Port, North Jakarta.
The finding reinforces the suspicion that the radiation contamination is not only from the industrial area, but could also be linked to containers used in export.
The government has taken measures to address the issue, including clearing contaminated areas in the Cikande Industrial Zone with heavy equipment and conducting health screenings for approximately 1,562 workers and nearby residents.
Of those screened, nine individuals were found to have been exposed to radiation, and they were referred to Fatmawati Hospital for further treatment. The government confirmed that all nine are in stable condition and show no symptoms.
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Translator: Maria Cicilia Galuh Prayudhia, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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