Radiation levels low in Turkish wheat

Press, 4 April 1989, Page 3

Radiation levels low in Turkish wheat

By

PAM MORTON

Tests for radiation in a shipment of imported Turkish wheat have found negligible amounts. The 20,000-tonne shipment arrived in Lyttelton on Saturday in the Manyas I. Earlier samples of wheat submitted to the Health Department by the importer and MAFQuaI have already been cleared of contamination.

Canterbury arable farmers recently expressed concern that the wheat might have been contaminated by fall-out from the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. They also claimed that the wheat exposed arable farms to the risk of introduced pests and diseases. Eleven samples were collected by the Health Department yesterday and sent for testing at the National Radiation Laboratory. The department’s health protection manager, Mr Brian Prendergast, said seven of the

samples were returned from the laboratory with insignificant radiation levels. The remaining four samples have yet to be analysed. Mr Prendergast said while the earlier samples had shown no contamination the department had a responsibility to confirm the original finding. “It’s just a precautionary measure,” he said.

The radiation levels recorded were no greater than those that would be found in New Zealandgrown crops, said Mr Prendergast. A further 28 samples will be taken today as the grain is discharged from the ship’s holds. The discharge, which began yesterday morning, is being supervised by MAFQuaI staff. The manager of quarantine services, Mr John Burton, said staff were undertaking routine procedures for the discharge of a bulk wheat consignment. He said MAFQual’s

main duty was to oversee the unloading of the shipment and to make sure that the wheat was transported safely from the wharf to a storage point. The wheat is being stored in Lyttelton Port Company silos near the wharf. A wheat sample would be tested for contamination by weeds and pests as part of the normal testing procedures, he said. The wheat was imported by Goodman Fielder Wattie (N.Z.), Ltd, to make up for a shortfall in the local production of low protein biscuit and feed wheat. The company’s national grain manager, Mr David Richards, said it was unlikely that the company would need to import grain from Turkey again. A shortfall on the local market had forced the company to look overseas for grain. “We would have purchased it locally this year if it had been available.”