The Indonesian government has confirmed that the radioactive contamination involving Cesium-137 (Cs-137) found in shrimp products is limited to the modern industrial zone in Cikande, Serang Regency, Banten.
Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs and Head of the Task Force for Handling Cs-137 Radiation Hazards, Zulkifli Hasan, in a press conference in Jakarta on 30 September and reported by Antara News and Tempo, stated that the government has officially designated the Cikande industrial area as a serious incident zone for Cs-137 exposure.
During the same briefing, Senior Advisor to the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs, Bara Khrishna Hasibuan, revealed initial investigations traced the source of contamination to PT Peter Metal Technology (PMT), a steel manufacturer in the Cikande industrial zone. The facility uses scrap metal as its primary raw material, and the contamination is believed to have spread through airborne transmission.
“Because it’s airborne, the contamination can be carried by wind. The shrimp packaging facility owned by PT Bahari Makmur Sejati (BMS) is located less than two kilometers from the steel plant,” Hasibuan explained.
As a precautionary step, authorities have re-exported 14 containers of scrap metal containing Cs-137 from Tanjung Priok Port. An additional nine containers originating from the Philippines are also slated for re-export.
Initial findings indicate that Cs-137 exposure was detected not only in the shrimp packaging but also in the containers used for shipping. “If those containers were used to ship shrimp, the shrimp could be contaminated. And if they’re reused for other goods, that’s dangerous,” he warned.
The measures came after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed traces of Cs-137 in frozen shrimp imported from Indonesia. Hasan emphasized that the government has intensified coordination with international stakeholders, including the US government and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to maintain transparency and accountability.
He assured that Indonesia’s seafood quality control systems remain fully operational and comply with both national and international standards, ensuring that local shrimp products remain safe and competitive in global markets.
Beyond communication, the government and the Task Force are also closely monitoring the affected area and providing protection for workers and residents near the Cikande industrial area in Serang, Banten Regency.
Out of more than 1,500 people examined around the Cikande industrial area, Zulkifli stated that only nine individuals were identified as exposed, and all have been treated by the Ministry of Health. These measures are critical for maintaining global trust in the quality and safety of Indonesian fisheries products, particularly the national shrimp industry.
Contamination source and product repatriation
The contamination was initially discovered in frozen shrimp products exported to the US. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed that the frozen shrimp products contained Cs−137.
Bara also clarified the status of Indonesian shrimp products that had already arrived in the US. He disclosed that some products have been collected and returned to Indonesia, while the remainder is still being processed for repatriation.
Several hundred containers were en route to the US when the incident occurred. As a result, these containers were rejected and had to be turned back. Currently, 26 containers have returned, and 18 of them are being stored at the Indonesian Quarantine Agency facility at Tanjung Priok Port for examination by BRIN.
The BRIN examination results showed that the 18 containers contained radioactive Cs−137, but at very low levels, even less than 1 becquerel per kilogram (Bq/kg). Becquerel (Bq) is the unit used to measure radioactivity. For reference, Indonesia’s established threshold is 500 Bq, while the FDA standard in the US is 1,200 Bq.
