FDA increases surveillance of regulated products from Japan

In the aftermath of the March 11 earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan, prominent infrastructure damage has affected the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, as well as prefectures in close proximity. Because of the public health concerns associated with radiation and nuclear contamination, the FDA and other US agencies are working with the Japanese government to increase surveillance of regulated products from Japan and to ensure that exported food products from Japan to the US remain safe.

In accordance with these efforts, after confirming the presence of radioactive iodine contamination, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare ordered a stop to the distribution of raw milk, spinach and kakina from Fukushima prefecture and of spinach and kakina from Ibaraki, Tochigi and Gunma prefectures. As a result, these products will not lawfully be placed in domestic or export markets and will be refused admission into the US.

The presence of radioactive iodine was five times the acceptable levels in these products tested in the areas surrounding the nuclear power plant, according to Japanese data analyses.

The FDA has issued an Import Alert detaining these products, as well as all milk products, vegetables and fruits produced or manufactured from the four Japanese prefectures upon entry into the US, unless shown to be free from radionuclide contamination upon screening.

The FDA is closely monitoring all food products to enable further evaluation of any possible future risk to consumers. In addition, the FDA is working with Customs and Border Protection to measure contamination so that all food products from the affected area, as well as other areas of Japan, will be tested before they can enter the US food supply.

“Though radioactive iodine has a short half-life of about 8 days and decays naturally within a matter of weeks, there is a risk to human health if radioactive iodine in food is absorbed into the human body. If ingested, it can accumulate in and cause damage to the thyroid. Children and young people are particularly at risk of thyroid damage due to the ingestion of radioactive iodine,” according to the FDA Import Alert.

“The Import Alert will be in effect for the next 180 days and will be extended as necessary,” Siobhan DeLancey, MPH, of the FDA office of public affairs told Infectious Diseases in Children.

Currently, the FDA reports that there is no risk to the US food supply, and the safety of imported food products that have already reached the US is not a concern.

FDA officials wrote in the Import Alert, “The FDA recognizes that the government of Japan is taking steps to address this issue and FDA will continue to provide support to their efforts. … FDA will continue monitoring the public health risks due to radionuclide contamination, and when appropriate will remove the Import Alert and resume routine coverage of entries.”

For more information, visit: www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ucm247403.htm.

Crops and milking areas may be contaminated with radiation and nuclear contamination in an accident like this one. If the Japanese health authorities are evaluating the problem and think there is no concern in transportation of foods to the US, it is likely to be correct. It is the US government’s responsibility to be sure. Japan is a major trader with the US. This is a temporary problem and should be contained soon.

– Herbert DuPont, MD

St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, Houston

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