FDA found one sample of ginger from Japan with detectable levels of radioactive cesium but released it as posing no public health concern

[Emily]

http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/publichealthfocus/ucm247403.htm#importjapan

What has FDA?s screening and testing shown so far?

As of Wednesday, June 15, FDA import investigators had performed 20, 544 field examinations for radionuclide contamination. FDA had tested 839 samples, 133 of which were seafood or seafood products. 838 samples had no Iodine-131, Cesium-134, Cesium-137, or other gamma-ray emitting radionuclides of concern. 1 sample was found to contain detectable levels of Cesium, but was below the established Derived Intervention Level (DIL) and posed no public health concern. MS Excel Data File

From Excel data:

171 686901 WEAC San Francisco 04/15/11 Mixed Spice and Seasonings, Without Salt, N.E.C. GINGER POWDER
Japan Gamma-ray emitting radionuclides were detected, however, the measurements were below the FDA Derived Intervention Levels (DILs), and therefore do not represent a threat to the public health. The DIL for Cesium-134 & Cesium-137 is 1,200 Bq/kg and 170 Bq/kg for Iodine-131.

http://blogs.forbes.com/jeffmcmahon/2011/04/14/why-does-fda-tolerate-more-radiation-than-epa/

Why Does FDA Tolerate More Radiation Than EPA?
Jeff McMahon
The Ingenuity of the Commons

Apr. 14 2011 - 5:11 am
[snip]
Officials from both agencies?as well as many state governments?explain the difference in terms of time: EPA assumes long-term exposure over 70 years. FDA assumes you?re encountering the radiation all at once.

But time isn?t the only difference between these two standards:

FDA tolerates a higher mortality rate....

:tiphat: