• Traces of radioactivity detected at a clove farm in Sumatra, Indonesia.
• Contamination linked to U.S. FDA findings of Caesium-137 in shrimp and spices.
• Farm operations suspended until comprehensive testing can be completed.
• Imported products from affected regions will require new certifications.
• Long-term exposure to Caesium-137 poses elevated cancer risks.

Indonesian authorities have discovered traces of radioactivity at a clove farm located on Sumatra island, expanding an investigation that was initiated after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) detected Caesium-137 contamination in spices originating from Indonesia. The FDA found Caesium-137 in a sample from PT Natural Java Spice, a situation that also related back to a previous detection in August involving frozen shrimp from the same country, according to Channel News Asia and The Jakarta Post.

The Indonesian government has mobilized inspection teams to assess both a processing facility and farms located on Java and Sumatra islands. Task force spokesperson Bara Hasibuan confirmed that radioactivity was only found at the clove farm in Lampung, leading to its temporary ban on sales until further testing can establish the source of contamination. "Until there is a conclusive finding, we requested that the cloves from the farm are not being sold," Hasibuan stated, emphasizing the need for decisive action, according to CBS News.

The contamination incident prompted Indonesia to tighten restrictions in the Cikande industrial estate area, where at least 22 facilities showed traces of Caesium-137. The Indonesian government has also initiated inspections of vehicles in the region for potential contamination risks. Furthermore, it has suspended imports of scrap iron and steel, which are believed to be the source of the radioactive material, until a new monitoring system for radioactive substances is firmly established, as mentioned by Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq in an Instagram post, according to The Jakarta Post and Channel News Asia.

The FDA has placed a ban on products from the two implicated Indonesian companies until they can prove they have resolved the contamination issues. Effective late October, shrimp and spices from specified Indonesian regions will require import certification to ensure safety against potential Caesium-137 exposure. The FDA also recalled shrimp exports from PT Bahari Makmur Sejati following the detection of the radioactive isotope. Long-term exposure to even small doses of Caesium-137 is associated with an increased risk of cancer, according to the agency, as reported by CBS News and The Jakarta Post.