Singapore, which has suspended the import of milk and milk products, fruits and vegetables, seafood and meat from Japan as a precautionary move, has found radiation levels in four samples that it took from shipments that arrived here.

Traces of radiation were found in Mitsuba (Japanese wild parsley), Nanohana (rape seed plant), Mizuna (Japanese mustard) and Perilla Leaf that were imported from the prefectures of Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi and Gunma of Japan.

All the affected shipments have been detained and will be disposed off.

Precautionary approach

“The suspension is in line with the precautionary approach adopted by the other countries such as the US and Australia,” the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), said this week after it announced suspension of food imports from Japan..

AVA is a government agency that keeps a close watch on food arrivals into Singapore and grants or suspends permissions.

“We will continue to closely monitor and test imports of food from Japan,” it said.

The contaminated samples were imported from the affected prefectures of Tochigi and Ibaraki, as well as Chiba and Ehime which are outside the affected areas.

The agency, however, said that short term consumption of the affected vegetables would not cause any harm. There was no need for alarm, it assured.

The Strait Times reported on Friday that all the vegetables totalling 144 kg were recalled successfully. However, a 200 gm consignment went to an eatery that too was disposed off.

The city nation depends on imports for food and vegetables from neighbouring countries.

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