Frozen Shrimp Products From The Republic Of Indonesia Allegedly Radioactive Contaminated, Minister Of KP Trenggono Opened His Voice

JAKARTA - Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KP) Sakti Wahyu Trenggono opened his voice regarding frozen shrimp products processed by a company from Indonesia, PT Bahari Makmur Sejati or BMS Food contaminated with Cs-137 when entering the United States (US).

Trenggono explained that at least four containers of frozen shrimp products were contaminated with Cs-137, aka cesium radioactive isotopes.

"It is suspected that there are four containers entering the US with Cs-137, the Cs-137 is said to be active radio," Trenggono said when contacted by VOI, Wednesday, August 20.

He claimed that his party together with the Nuclear Energy Supervisory Agency (Bapeten) had checked from upstream. However, when they arrived at the factory, he said, his party found that the frozen shrimp product was exposed to air pollution.

"Well, we did the first check from the source first, from the pond, from the pond there was nothing. Then we went to the factory. Well, as soon as we entered the factory he found it was in the exhaust site above, in the top place it was hit. So, that means it was exposed to air contamination, you know," he said.

According to Trenggono, around PT Bahari Makmur Sejati, there is indeed a steel smelting factory. He assessed that frozen shrimp products processed by PT Bahari Makmur Sejati were exposed to contamination from the factory.

"There, that's, there are two factories, yes. There is a shoe factory, there is a shrimp factory. The shoe factory is also suspected to be (hit the contamination when entering) in the Netherlands, it is rejected if there is Cs-137. Well, it turns out that on the left and right there, that's it, there is a smelting of steel," said Trenggono.

For this reason, Trenggono admitted that his party had conveyed this to the Ministry of Environment (KLH). "There are already three that have been closed and today I heard that 10 were closed," he explained.

Furthermore, Trenggono also denied that his party had been negligent in terms of supervision. "It's not (weak supervision), it's not. We have strict supervision, but if the radio is active we don't have the tools," said Trenggono.

"That's why we involved (Bapeten), it was found that the radio was active, not others. If there is such a virus or what is our responsibility there," he continued.

In the future, he continued, the KKP will intensively handle the issue together with the Minister of Industry and the Minister of the Environment so that it does not happen again.

"We will handle it together with the Minister of Industry, the Minister of Environment. With the intense KLH, several steel factories in the area have been closed by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. Of course, it will also negotiate," said Trenggono.

"Right, there are only four containers. The four containers, the ones that are likely to be returned. So, I mean sorry too, yes, the BMS. That's why it's not BMS' fault, if it's from the air, it's also difficult," he concluded.

Previously, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned consumers not to consume the Great Value frozen shrimp products sold at Walmart.

The warning came after US customs authorities detected contamination of the Cesium-137 (Cs-137) radioactive isotopic in containers of shrimp shipments originating from Indonesia.

The FDA said contamination was detected by Customs and US Border Protection (CBP) at four main ports, namely Los Angeles, Houston, airway and Miami. The container, which tested positive for Cs-137, was immediately rejected entry into the United States.

Although the FDA confirmed that there has been no confirmation of direct contamination of commercial shrimp products in the US market, the agency said it is likely that the product has been prepared, packaged or stored in an unhygienic condition that opens up opportunities for exposure to radioactive isotopes.

"If you have just bought a raw frozen shrimp from Walmart according to this description, throw it away. Don't eat or serve this product," the FDA wrote in a statement, quoted from the official fda.gov website, Wednesday, August 20.

According to the FDA, although exposure to Cs-137 is limited, it can increase the risk of cancer due to DNA damage in body cells. The FDA assesses that although isotopic levels are detected to be still below the level of concern, product withdrawals are carried out to avoid exposure to low doses that can be accumulated in the long term.