Zulhas Immediately Announces Cases Of Radioactive Frozen Shrimp

Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan or Zulhas. (Rizky A-VOI)

JAKARTA - Deputy for Affordability and Food Safety of the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs (Kemenko Pangan) Nani Hendiarti said the latest development of radioactive issues on Indonesian frozen shrimp products was immediately conveyed by the Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan or Zulhas.

"Wait for the Coordinating Minister (Pangan Zulkifli Hasan) to talk (regarding the development of radioactive substances in Indonesian frozen shrimp," said Nani when he was met as a speaker at the Katadata Sustainability Action for The Future Economy (SAFE) 2025 activity in Jakarta, Wednesday, confiscated by Antara.

Nani conveyed this when confirmed regarding the development of radioactive issues in Indonesian frozen shrimp products exported to the United States (US).

He asked the media crew to wait for the official statement of the Coordinating Minister for Food regarding this matter.

It's just that he emphasized that currently the government has prepared handling steps through the establishment of a special task force to address the issue in a coordinated manner with the relevant institutions.

"Yes (there is already a Task Force that handles it), (but) maybe the Coordinating Minister will talk later," said later.

However, further details regarding the membership and strategic steps of the Task Force cannot be conveyed to the public, considering that the official submission is planned to be carried out directly by the Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan in the near future.

He ensured that an official statement regarding the development of the shrimp case containing radioactive substances was announced on Friday, September 12, so that the public and international trading partners could obtain clarity and certainty of information.

"Yes, it looks like it won't take long, maybe later on Friday. It's just a plan to wait for the report on Friday. This Friday, it won't take too long for another 1-2 days. Later, let the Coordinating Minister go directly," said Nani.

Previously, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) emphasized that the radioactive issue in Indonesian frozen shrimp products exported to the United States (US) was only incidental, cassual and fast steps that had been taken to maintain the reputation of exports.

"We have conveyed to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) that this is an incidental case that only happens there, only occurs in certain lots, become certain containers, certain shipments, do not occur elsewhere," said the Head of the KKP Marine and Fishery Product Quality Control and Supervision Agency (Badan Mutu) Ishartini confirmed by ANTARA in Jakarta, Tuesday 9 September.

Following up on this, said Ishartini, the KKP together with the Nuclear Energy Supervisory Agency (Bapeten) conducted joint inspections to trace the supply chain of PT BMS shrimp raw materials originating from Lampung and Pandeglang.

The search results confirmed that Cesium-137 was found in ponds or raw materials, so the contamination allegedly came from outside the processing plant environment.

Bapeten found allegations of radioactive exposure in the outside of the PT BMS factory area in Cikande, which is thought to have come from the surrounding environment, possibly scrap metal.

"From Bapeten, maybe later it will be more competent to be able to convey initial suspicions, such as from old iron around there. That is what is suspected to be able to pollute the factory, because it can be done by air," he said.