September 8, 2025 | 07:20 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Shrimp Club Indonesia (SCI) asserts that shrimp from Indonesia remains safe for consumption. This statement is in response to allegations of radioactive isotope contamination that have begun to affect the market.
SCI Vice Chair Aryo Wiryawan stated that without a prompt and transparent response from the government, the trust of international consumers is at risk. He mentioned that the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (Bapeten) has conducted measurements on the shrimp supply chain, from hatcheries to ponds, and found no radiation. The initial conclusion was announced on August 22, 2025.
"The investigation is ongoing and expanding, but there is no written statement to the public regarding the results," Aryo said when contacted by Tempo on Sunday, September 7, 2025.
On the other hand, he said, the United States (US) government rejected the investigation results presented in a narrative form. They demanded quantitative measurement results and evidence of corrective and preventive actions to prevent a recurrence. "The longer the US government does not accept the evidence, the greater their questions about what actually happened," he said.
Aryo expressed concerns that prolonged uncertainty could reduce purchases in the US, China, and other countries.
The situation in the field is increasingly felt. Shrimp prices in several regions have dropped by more than 30 percent, especially in Aceh and North Sumatra, which depend on the PT Bahari Makmur Sejati (BMS Foods) factory. The closure of the factory led shrimp farmers to harvest early and sell at low prices, resulting in an oversupply and affecting the local market due to radioactive contamination concerns.
"Without a statement that this case is clear and being handled transparently, shrimp farmers are feared to postpone stocking until there is certainty," Aryo said. "This will reduce Indonesia's production and exports, so the market will be filled by competing countries."
If that happens, the Chairman of JALA claimed that it would be very difficult for Indonesia to restore production and export levels to their initial figures. "Farmers who have suffered losses will find it very difficult to recover," he said.
SCI also emphasizes the need for prompt action from the government. "Official dissemination of investigation results to the public is needed to restore the situation to normal," he said. The government is also asked to provide a prompt and transparent explanation with evidence to the public and US authorities.
Prior to this, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised people not to consume, sell, or serve dishes containing frozen shrimp produced by PT BMS Foods, as it is suspected of being contaminated with a radioactive isotope.
"The FDA is actively investigating reports of Cesium-137 (Cs-137) contamination in shipping containers and frozen shrimp products processed by PT Bahari Makmur Sejati (BMS Foods) from Indonesia," quoted the FDA official statement on Tuesday, August 19, 2025.
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