ARLINGTON, VA – We wanted to make you aware that as part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) precautionary, routine monitoring of milk, water, and select other products for radiation, the EPA reported late yesterday that extremely low levels of iodine-131 were found in milk samples collected in Spokane, Washington, and San Luis Obispo, California.

In a joint statement, EPA and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) underscored that the trace levels found in the samples are more than 5,000 times lower than the intervention thresholds set by the FDA – far below levels that would cause any concern for public health. The statement said these very low amounts were expected and will likely continue to appear for the next few days of testing.

The FDA and EPA continue to reiterate that, based on current information, there is no risk to the U.S. food supply.

The full EPA press release is available online. While the EPA document does not mention the radiation finding in California, subsequent media coverage does.

NMPF, along with DMI, IDFA, MilkPEP, and USDEC will continue working together to share up-to-date information and respond to inquiries.

Holding Statement:

March 30, 2011 - Consumer safety is the highest priority for dairy farmers and dairy foods companies. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have underscored that the trace levels of radiation detected in a milk sample in Washington was expected and fell far below levels that would cause any concern for public health. Both the FDA and EPA continue to state that, based on current information, there is no risk to the U.S. food supply. The U.S. dairy industry will continue to work closely with federal and state government agencies to ensure that we maintain a safe milk supply.

Additional Resources:

• EPA FAQ on Situation in Japan (updated on March 30)
  
• EPA Updates on Monitoring Efforts (updated on March 30)
  
• FDA FAQ on Situation in Japan (updated on March 29)
  

The National Milk Producers Federation, based in Arlington, VA, develops and carries out policies that advance the well being of dairy producers and the cooperatives they own. The members of NMPF’s 31 cooperatives produce the majority of the U.S. milk supply, making NMPF the voice of more than 40,000 dairy producers on Capitol Hill and with government agencies.