US Reports Rising Shrimp Of The Republic Of Indonesia Polluted By Cesium, Trade Minister Will Conduct Inspection

The Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) responded to the findings of Cesium-137 (Cs-137) radioactive material in frozen shrimp products from Indonesia exported to the United States (US).

The Minister of Trade (Mendag) Budi Santosa admitted that he had communicated with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) and the Nuclear Energy Supervisory Agency (Bapetan) regarding these findings.

Furthermore, Budi said, the KKP and Bapetan are currently conducting further inspections to ensure the findings of the United States Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (FDA).

"So earlier I also met with the Minister of KKP, yes, it was a meeting. So we have coordinated with the KKP, with Bapeten. KKP and Father are conducting inspections, yes, regarding the findings of Cesium-137," he said at the Office of the Ministry of Trade, Jakarta, Wednesday, August 20.

Budi said, this will be an evaluation of export products in the future. He said this is important to ensure that food products that export Indonesia are safe.

"So we will continue to coordinate, yes, in the future, let us have an evaluation, yes, evaluate so that our products go to America or wherever they go, this is part of food products," he said.

Furthermore, Budi said that food products exported actually have very high standards. So, it needs to be prepared better.

"Indeed, food is usually very high standards, so we have to prepare well so that in the future there will be no more problems like this," he explained.

For your information, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) appealed to the public not to consume a certain number of frozen shrimp products sold in the Walmart retail network. This warning was issued after allegations of exposure to the Cesium-137 (Cs-137) radioactive material emerged.

In his official statement, Tuesday, August 19, the FDA stated that Cs-137 contamination was detected in shipping containers and frozen shrimp products processed by an Indonesian company, PT Bahari Makmur Sejati Indonesia (BMS Food).

The company's raw frozen shrimp products are known to be marketed through Walmart in 13 US states.