The detection of radiation in food in Japan following the devastating earthquake is more serious than initially feared, said the World Health Organisation (WHO) today.
But the European Union said there were no current health risks to the region’s consumers as the bloc imported little food from Japan. It confirmed that control measures would be stepped up in the wake of the disaster that seriously damaged a Japanese nuclear reactor triggering a radiation leak.
Serious situation
Peter Cordingley, Manila-based spokesman for WHO's regional office for the Western Pacific, told Reuters: "Quite clearly it's a serious situation. It's a lot more serious than anybody thought in the early days when we thought that this kind of problem can be limited to 20 to 30 kilometres.”
The WHO spokesman said there was no current evidence to suggest that contaminated food had been exported to other countries although "it's safe to suppose that some contaminated produce got out of the contamination zone," he said.
Leafy green vegetables, meat, milk and eggs are likely to be most at risk from contamination, said the WHO in guidance released today. However, canned food was less likely to be affected because of food processor control mechanisms.
Regional anxieties surfaced last week as reports emerged of contaminated vegetables, milk, water and dust from Japan in the aftermath of the huge quake and subsequent tsunami that is believed to have killed tens of thousands and smashed the Daiichi nuclear reactor in Fukushima.
Japan has forbidden the sale of raw milk from Fukushima prefecture and spinach from another nearby area. It said more restrictions on food may be announced later on Monday. Government officials admitted that some food with radioactivity above the safety limit might be on shop shelves in Japan.
Last week, the European Commission said there were currently no health risks to consumers as Japan was authorised to export few food products of animal origin into the region – including some vegetables, bivalve molluscs, feed and feed derivatives.
The EC representative reassured a meeting of the Council of Ministers that “following the possible radioactive contamination of the products, controls will be reinforced by the Member States importing such products”.
WHO guidance
The Geneva-based body today issued more detailed guidance on the possible risk of food contamination from radiation.
A number of compounds are of particular concern for food contamination - including isotopes of strontium, isotopes of iodine - particularly iodine 131, and isotopes of caesium, notably caesium 137.
Leafy greens will be most exposed to direct contact from contaminated air, it added. Meat, milk and egg products will be at risk of contamination through the animal eating contaminated grass or feed.
Processed products such as canned foods are unlikely to contain potentially contaminated raw material because of the existing safety and quality screening mechanisms already in place in the food industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Amid the increasingly evident impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion, the shrimp-rice production model in Ca Mau province continues to prove itself as a viable direction, contributing to higher farmer incomes, improved soil conditions and the promotion of ecological and sustainable agricultural development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho’s fishery industry sustained steady growth in 2025 with total aquatic and marine output reaching nearly 783,000 tons, fulfilling 100% of the annual target. Aquaculture, capture fisheries and fishing fleet management were further strengthened, aiming for sustainable development in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export turnover reached nearly USD 2.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year. This result indicates that pangasius exports maintained their growth momentum despite significant volatility in the global market environment. In December 2025, pangasius export value reached USD 200 million, up 10% compared to December 2024. This solid performance in the final month of the year reflects increased import demand for consumption and inventory replenishment in key markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain experienced significant fluctuations. According to Vietnam Customs, during the first 11 months of 2025, export turnover for the first 11 months of the year edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reaching nearly $15 million.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 16/QD-TTg, dated January 5, 2026, approving the implementation plan for the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). Under the plan, in the coming period, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated entities and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must institutionalize and execute tasks focused on the dissemination of information regarding VIFTA and the Israeli market; legislative and institutional development, as well as enhancing competitiveness and human resource growth...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Beyond achieving double-digit growth, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are showing a notable year-end "inflection point": the EU his accelerating with nearly twofold growth, China & Hong Kong are rising sharply, while the largest market, South Korea, signaled a slowdown in November. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover of fish cake and surimi reached $327 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 22% year-on-year; November 2025 alone accounted for $35 million, marking a 5% increase. This serves as a critical foundation for exporters to reassess market structures and competitive intensity while finalizing order strategies for 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau, widely regarded as the nation’s “shrimp capital”, continued its strong performance in 2025 as shrimp output reached nearly 600,000 tons, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp-producing locality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 29, 2025, at the 2025 Pangasius Industry Review Conference held in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Pangasius Association announced that fingerling prices have surged to record levels due to acute supply shortages.
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