When met on Friday, Nurofiq said that the Cesium-137 Radionuclide Radiation Hazard Management Task Force had examined the source of the clove products in Lampung, which had previously been identified by the FDA as being exposed to radioactive substances.
"The team has visited several locations in Lampung suspected of containing the radionuclide. However, nothing was found, almost none," he conveyed.
According to him, the Task Force also visited a landfill site (TPA) suspected of being a former industrial site that closed due to a fire. However, they also found no Cesium-137 contamination at the location.
Furthermore, his office has also inspected the PT NJS factory in East Java and confirmed there was no exposure to Cesium-137.
"We are still investigating this matter because the suspected goods, the cloves, have not arrived from the US. Once they arrive, we will verify the FDA's finding regarding the radionuclide content in the imported cloves from Indonesia," the minister said.
The clove products identified by the FDA as being exposed to Cesium-137 are expected to arrive in Indonesia by the end of October.
Previously, the FDA reported findings of suspected radioactive Cesium-137 contamination in Indonesian clove products exported by PT NJS. In response, the FDA blocked all exports of the company's spices to the US.
Earlier, Cesium-137 radioactive exposure was also reportedly found in PT BMS's frozen shrimp products exported to the US, according to the FDA.
Last September, Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan confirmed that the case of radioactive Cesium-137 contamination in shrimp products occurred only in the Cikande Modern Industrial Estate and did not spread to the national supply chain or exports.
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Translator: Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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