JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia has detected traces of radioactive cesium 137 at a clove plantation as investigations continue into the source of radioactive contamination that prompted recalls of shrimp and spices exported to the United States. A task force looking into the matter reported these findings on Wednesday.
In September, officials from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) blocked all imports of spices processed by PT Natural Java Spice of Indonesia after cesium 137 was found in a shipment of cloves destined for California. This marked the second food product from Indonesia to face a recall this year due to radioactive contamination, following an earlier incident in August involving shrimp from a different Indonesian company.
The investigation revealed the presence of cesium 137 at a clove plantation located in Lampung province. In addition to the plantation, clove processing facilities in Surabaya, East Java, and another plantation in Central Java were also inspected. The task force is collaborating with Indonesia’s Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency to address the issue.
Bara Hasibuan, the spokesperson for the task force, confirmed that the contamination had been detected in limited quantities on the plantations in Lampung. He assured the public that the contamination had not spread to other areas or commodities. "We can confirm that contamination has been found on plantations in Lampung. The contamination was found in limited quantities and has not spread to other areas or commodities," Hasibuan stated in a written statement.
In response to the findings, the nuclear regulatory agency has recommended a temporary halt to the sale of contaminated clove products while further laboratory tests are conducted. Investigators are actively pursuing the source of the contamination. Hasibuan emphasized the government's commitment to quickly localizing the contamination to prevent any potential spread. He also advised the public and businesses to remain calm and await the official laboratory test results.
The task force has previously traced the shrimp contamination to a steel factory situated in the Cikande industrial estate, approximately 3 kilometers (2 miles) from the PT Bahari Makmuri Sejati shrimp processing facility. This facility is known for exporting millions of pounds of shrimp to the U.S. annually.
Experts in nuclear radiation have indicated that the health risks associated with the detected contamination are low, given that only very low levels of radioactivity were identified. However, they have stressed the importance of identifying the source of the contamination and communicating this information to the public to ensure transparency and safety.
