FDA limits food imports

 WASHINGTON – Ratcheting up screening on food products from Japan, the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday announced that all milk, milk products and fresh fruits and vegetables from four areas near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear complex will be barred from importation into the United States.

 In addition to prohibiting those products from Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi and Gunma prefectures, any other food imports from those regions will be automatically diverted for screening upon arrival at U.S. ports and will be permitted to enter the country only if radiation tests are negative, according to the FDA.

 Japanese authorities already have barred the shipment of raw milk and spinach from one or more of the prefectures because of radiation concerns.

 There is no indication that any radiation-tainted food products have entered the U.S., an FDA spokeswoman said.

Tribune Washington bureau