Consumer group wants FDA to block all Japanese food imports

A consumer group said Wednesday that the Food and Drug Administration is not going far enough in blocking some food imports from the area in Japan most affected by radiation leaks from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

The FDA announced in an "import alert" that officials “may detain, without physical examination" products that have been affected by radiation like milk and some vegetables if they make their way to the United States. But, the alert notes, Japanese officials have already halted the export of the affected products.

The consumer group Food and Water Watch wants all Japanese food blocked, in part because the food-inspection system in the U.S. is weak and underfunded, the group argues.

“Last night the FDA announced it is blocking imports from the region in Japan where the nuclear accident occurred. This is a good start, but we believe they should go further and block imports from the whole country,” Food and Water Watch said in a statement.

Although Japanese food products make up only 4 percent of food imported into the U.S., much of it is seafood and food that could have been rinsed in radiated water, the group says.

“This accident in Japan and concerns about its food supply and possible imports from there highlights inadequacies in FDA's everyday program for imports. Cutting the budget for food safety protections isn't going to help,” the group notes. “On a good day, less than 2 percent of seafood imported into the U.S. is inspected.”