Food and Drug officials across Asia have been inspecting food from Japan. In Hong Kong, some imported food was found to have radiation contamination and that prompted the FDA to halt all imports of produce and dairy from Japan. Central New York grocery stores like Wegmans and Price Chopper say they don't get produce from Japan so shoppers here won't be affected.
"Across the whole U.S., only about 4% of all imports come from Japan and it's mostly snack food and processed things," said Price Chopper Manager John Dean. "Very minimal - no fruit or dairy that I know of or Price Chopper carries whatsoever."
Nationally, the FDA estimates that only one tenth of one percent of dairy imports come from Japan.
"We are working closely with the FDA to follow their guidance in regards to products from Japan, however as I mentioned - we do not carry any produce or dairy products from Japan."
SUNY Morrisville professor Sheila Marshman says that even though 25% of the food supply in the U.S. is imported, the system is safe and has several layers of inspection to maintain quality standards.
"What the FDA has done by stepping up and banning any imported food from Japan is significant and that's their responsibility to ensure the U.S. customer is safe and that's what they've done," said Marshman.
CNYCentral also talked with several Syracuse area Asian grocery stores that often sell specialty items from Japan. They say they are working closely with the FDA to make sure all products are safe.
Click here for information from the FDA.
Click here for more information about the threat radiation can pose to food.
