Food contaminated with radiation from Japan?

Question:

I just heard that radiation was found in spinach and milk in Japan because of the nuclear plant. I live in New Jersey. Is it safe to eat spinach and drink milk?

Answer:

1. The contamination is from radioactive iodine has a half-life of about eight days and decays into harmless substances in few weeks.

2. The only agricultural areas that are affected are those in the Fukushima area. Unless you are flying your vegetables in from Fukushima, Japan, there is zero risk.

Here is the IAEA link where you can get accurate information:

http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/tsun…

Here is an excerpt:

"The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has confirmed the presence of radioactive iodine contamination in food products measured in the Fukushima Prefecture, the area around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. According to the latest data, the food products were measured from 16-18 March and indicated the presence of radioactive iodine. To date, no other radioactive isotopes have been shown to increase in the analysis of food products around Fukushima.

Though radioactive iodine has a short half-life of about 8 days and decays naturally within a matter of weeks, there is a short-term risk to human health if radioactive iodine in food is absorbed into the human body. If ingested, it can accumulate in and cause damage to the thyroid. Children and young people are particularly at risk of thyroid damage due to the ingestion of radioactive iodine."
...
"As an established method of prevention, the ingestion of stable iodine can help to prevent the accumulation of radioactive iodine in the thyroid. Stable iodine pills and syrup (for children) have been made available at evacuation centres. Second, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has ordered a stop to the sale of all food products from the Fukushima Prefecture."