Concerns for Radioactive Agricultural and Domestic Imports from Japan

The FDA's screening of U.S. food supply at border check points will continue as it has before but it will be augmented to include radiation screening in light of the nuclear disaster that has recently happened in Japan. In Asia, some fresh produce originating from Japan has been found to have positive radiation levels. The concern for radioactive food spreading to various parts of the world is a global concern for all countries that actively participate in agricultural trade with Japan.

The FDA states that its import tracking system has been programmed to automatically flag all shipments of FDA-regulated products from Japan. The agency also maintains a registry of all companies that prepare, pack, manufacture, or hold food for intended consumption in the U.S. Therefore special attention will be placed on any company whose location exists in the affected areas devastated by the earthquakes and the tsunami.

In spite of the agency's role in the over-site of officially regulated food and other consumer products, there are still a vast list of fresh produce and livestock that are imported from Japan. The Japanese health Ministry reports that elevated levels of radiation in spinach and milk have been found from farms residing up to 90 miles from Japan's crippled nuclear reactors. However, the ministry failed to make any reference to any contaminated farm animals, seafood, or fishing grounds in Japan. Also, no food exports from Japan have failed quality tests being done by other countries. Consequently, the quality tests vary from country to country and it may be possible that their tests must be augmented, as the FDA's test has, to include radiation screening. Therein also lies the quandary of what consumption products are analyzed in such a manner and what percentage of the total imports are officially screened?

In light of all the unknown risk and the immense concern for quality, the New York Times has recently reported that Sushi restaurants are dropping Japanese fresh food from their menus, as heighten fears over possible radioactive contamination has prompted immediate risk response. The Mandarin Oriental International Ltd. Is a global Hotel and Resorts corporation whose flagship is in Hong Kong but have locations in NYC and DC, among other metropolitan cities, have also stopped buying food from Japan. The Mandarin Oriental is the parent company of the Four Season's Hotel.

Here in Washington DC, I can name several grocery stores and restaurants that specialize in Japanese food and agricultural goods. Cities that have high concentrations of immigrants from international locations bring with them the added benefit of their own cultural stores and restaurants that exist to service their country-men and the people who are not indigenous to their country but share in the love of their cuisines and products. During this period of unknown health risk, it may be wise to shop cautiously at these locations or possible suspend activity until some sort of guarantee or individual testing can be administered.