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CFIA Posts Japan Earthquake - Questions and Answers

03-21-2011 - CFIA Posts Japan Earthquake - Questions and Answers

Food Safety

Q1. What is the CFIA currently doing in response to the situation in Japan?

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), in coordination with other government and international partners, is closely monitoring the situation.

Rigorous controls and tracking systems are in place for imported food, plants and livestock, and additional actions will be taken as necessary to protect the integrity of Canada’s food supply.

Q2. Will the CFIA start testing food from Japan for radiological contamination?

Japanese products currently available for sale in Canada were shipped prior to the earthquake and, therefore, would not have been affected by radiological contamination resulting form the Japan nuclear situation.

Given the destruction caused by the earthquake and tsunami, products are not being shipped from Japan. Once exporting resumes, the CFIA, in consultation with partners and international authorities will assess any potential risk associated with Japanese food, plants and animals. Measures, such as testing may be implemented as warranted to assure that Canada's food supply remains protected.

Radiation and Food

Q1. Is testing for radiation in food a normal practice of the Government of Canada?

As part of Health Canada’s total diet study, the government collects information on normal background levels of radionuclides in food. The total diet study is a survey of contaminants in food and is an important tool used to estimate Canadian’s exposure to contaminants through the food supply.

In fact, Canada is one of the only countries in the world that includes the measurement of levels of radionuclides as part of a national total diet study. This information gives us a very good idea of the normal levels of these materials in food, and will allow us to be much better prepared to respond to situations such as the one currently underway in Japan.

* Canadian Total Diet Study

Q2. What has Health Canada found in these tests?

Since the Total Diet Study in 2000, Health Canada has been evaluating levels of radionuclides in food on an annual basis. All results to date have indicated extremely low background levels of radionuclides, below the limits of our testing technology.

The study provides us with baseline data; since any results above that detection level would be clearly noticeable.

Q3. What is the detection limit of the Total Diet Study, and would levels above that limit represent a risk to Canadians?

Currently, the tests used as part of the total diet study can detect radionuclides as low as 2 becquerel per kg. This is an incredibly low level.

Our ability to detect contaminants in food is constantly improving. We can now test for microscopic levels of contamination that would not have any impact on the health of the consumer. This is why it’s important to consider not only the substance, but also the amount we are exposed to before knowing whether there is a risk.

In this case, even if we detected a level slightly higher than our detection levels, it would not necessarily mean that there was a risk to Canadians. It would depend on the level found, what food it was found in and how much of that food Canadians eat.

Q4. Has Health Canada set maximum levels for radiation in food?

Health Canada has implemented what are called action levels for radionuclides in food, which can be applied during a radiation related emergency. The action level is applied to specific radionuclides based on the risk they represent and are significantly higher than the detection limits used.

* Canadian Guidelines for the Restriction of Radioactively Contaminated Food and Water Following a Nuclear Emergency

The CODEX Alimentarius, an international scientific organization focussed on food additives and contaminants has also established recommended limits for specific radionuclides in food which are consistent with Health Canada’s action levels.

Q5. How does the Government of Canada test for radiation in food?

Testing for radiation in food is a complicated process that is only conducted in a laboratory setting. For the total diet study, samples of foods are collected and prepared as they would be eaten in the home (cooked vs. raw, cooking methods etc).

Once the food is prepared, samples are taken and are tested for the various contaminants that the total diet study measures.

In the case of radionuclides, the samples are sent to a specialized laboratory in the Radiation Protection Bureau of Health Canada where radiation experts use specific equipment to detect targeted radionuclides of concern that may be present in the food.

Import

Q1. How much food is imported to Canada from Japan?

The total volume of agri-food imports from Japan to Canada was approximately $42.6 million in 2010.

Q2. What percentage of imported food comes from Japan?

Japan's share of Canadian food imports is very small - less than 0.3 % of food entering Canada.