Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Banten Governor Andra Soni assured the public that shrimp from the province’s ponds are safe for consumption, despite rumors of Cesium-137 radioactive contamination. 

To demonstrate confidence, he personally ate locally farmed vannamei shrimp during the Banten Culinary Festival in Serang on Saturday.

“Thank GOd, there’s no problem with shrimp from our ponds,” Governor Andra said on Sunday (5/101/2025< as quoted by antaranews.com.

He explained that discussions with the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs traced the suspected source of radiation to a metal smelting industry using imported raw materials, not to aquaculture sites. Indonesia, he added, has no nuclear power plants, and the Serpong nuclear reactor in South Tangerang remains secure.

The Banten Marine and Fisheries Office (DKP) has dispatched inspection teams, confirming that all pond shrimp samples tested negative for radioactive contamination.

The Banten government vowed to maintain strict monitoring of both fisheries and industrial sectors to protect farmers and restore public confidence.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)