FDA finally responded to our petition when taking the highly unusual step of issuing a series of warnings and a Class II alert, and we think not coincidentally, which prompted recalls of shrimp from major grocery chains across the US. In August, September, and on October 21st Martha Stewart Living reported that exposure through ingestion allows the radioactive material to be distributed in soft tissues, especially muscle, potentially increasing cancer risk according to the CDC. Consumer Reports and the AP were among many who reported on the recalls, however the media often relies on FDA statements that cesium-137 “readily excretes” (as though it’s harmless), and that it doesn’t bioaccumulate in fish. Both statements are misleading. Thankfully, "Martha Stewart Living" got it right. Thanks, Martha! You can help support FFAN's work at Givelify via our sponsor the National Institute for Science, Law and Public Policy. https://bit.ly/PleaseGiveForSaferFood ,
To: Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump, The United States House of Representatives, and The United States Senate
Keep harmful radioactive waste out of our children's food, conventionally grown or organic
THE PROBLEM: Every nuclear reactor vents and discharges manmade radiation into air and waterways during operations. Tritium, a known carcinogen, closely resembles water in structure and therefore isn't being filtered at all due to complexity and cost. Additional radionuclides, including cesium 134 and 137, are part of the industry's operational mix. The FDA needs to act on a 2013 Citizen Petition filed by alarmed parents and experts to better protect our food supply against cancer and chronic disease- causing toxins.
The issue has been repeatedly brought to the attention of HHS and MAHA leaders and to date there has been no official response, as reported by Food Safety News. However, recent radioactive shrimp recalls involving as many as 35 states and multiple seafood brands underscores that the problem is being taken seriously at long last. The recalls have shined a laser beam on the issue and we must keep up the pressure to educate lawmakers, the food industry, the public and media.
In 2023 the former ambassador to Japan, Raham Emanuel, announced that the U.S. military would begin purchasing Japanese seafood, particularly from the Fukushima Prefecture, to help offset the impact of China's ban on Japanese seafood imports following the release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant. Food, including fruit and seafood from Japan's Fukushima Prefecture, has been sold at high-end department stores and at food fairs around the US.
THE POLICY: The allowable level of carcinogenic radioactive cesium in the U.S. is 1200 Bq/kg in food. Japan, which is still suffering a triple nuclear meltdown, has a limit of 50 Bq/kg for children and 100 Bq/kg for adults. Food that is legally unacceptable for consumers in Japan can be exported to the U.S., meanwhile there is still no end in sight to the crisis at Fukushima. Both of the limits are way too high to protect our children and their caregivers. We are asking that the limit be reduced to 5 Bq/kg for all food, nutritional supplements and pharmaceuticals--lower when technology allows-- and that we quickly and responsibly institute widespread, transparent testing to ensure this limit, particularly in the wake of Japan's catastrophic and ongoing radiation releases from Fukushima Daiichi's triple nuclear meltdowns.
The issue has been repeatedly brought to the attention of HHS and MAHA leaders and to date there has been no official response, as reported by Food Safety News. However, recent radioactive shrimp recalls involving as many as 35 states and multiple seafood brands underscores that the problem is being taken seriously at long last. The recalls have shined a laser beam on the issue and we must keep up the pressure to educate lawmakers, the food industry, the public and media.
In 2023 the former ambassador to Japan, Raham Emanuel, announced that the U.S. military would begin purchasing Japanese seafood, particularly from the Fukushima Prefecture, to help offset the impact of China's ban on Japanese seafood imports following the release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant. Food, including fruit and seafood from Japan's Fukushima Prefecture, has been sold at high-end department stores and at food fairs around the US.
THE POLICY: The allowable level of carcinogenic radioactive cesium in the U.S. is 1200 Bq/kg in food. Japan, which is still suffering a triple nuclear meltdown, has a limit of 50 Bq/kg for children and 100 Bq/kg for adults. Food that is legally unacceptable for consumers in Japan can be exported to the U.S., meanwhile there is still no end in sight to the crisis at Fukushima. Both of the limits are way too high to protect our children and their caregivers. We are asking that the limit be reduced to 5 Bq/kg for all food, nutritional supplements and pharmaceuticals--lower when technology allows-- and that we quickly and responsibly institute widespread, transparent testing to ensure this limit, particularly in the wake of Japan's catastrophic and ongoing radiation releases from Fukushima Daiichi's triple nuclear meltdowns.
Why is this important?
TAKE ACTION: An official Citizen’s Petition legal document to the Food and Drug Administration has been filed to put important safeguards into motion https://www.regulations.gov/document/FDA-2013-P-0291-0001 where your comments are welcome.
Please help support our FDA effort by signing and sharing this SignOn companion petition widely. We must begin to know how much radiation is in the food we are serving our families, so we can decide what is safe to feed them! All protections in our food supply have been fought for and won. We can win this too.
MORE INFO:
Kimberly Roberson is the author of "Silence Deafening, Fukushima Fallout..A Mother's Response"
FFAN Radioactive Shrimp Recall Press Release.
*Radiation and Health Expert Cindy Folkers
7 minute clip presentation on man-made radiation in our food
Watch the Congressional briefing on the issue here.
Please help support our FDA effort by signing and sharing this SignOn companion petition widely. We must begin to know how much radiation is in the food we are serving our families, so we can decide what is safe to feed them! All protections in our food supply have been fought for and won. We can win this too.
MORE INFO:
Kimberly Roberson is the author of "Silence Deafening, Fukushima Fallout..A Mother's Response"
FFAN Radioactive Shrimp Recall Press Release.
*Radiation and Health Expert Cindy Folkers
7 minute clip presentation on man-made radiation in our food
Watch the Congressional briefing on the issue here.