Radiological surveillance
Radioactivity, like any other contaminant of food, needs to be monitored to ensure that food safety is not compromised and consumers are adequately protected.
An extensive monitoring programme for radionuclides in food is carried out by the Agency and results are published annually in the Radioactivity in Food and the Environment report (RIFE). The monitoring programme provides the only independent UK-wide data of radioactivity in foods.
The Agency also carries out targeted surveys of certain sheep farms affected by contamination from the accident at Chernobyl. The Agency manages restrictions on the movement of affected sheep to protect consumers, where levels of radioactivity in sheep have been found to have fallen to safe levels, controls on these farms are removed.
Further information is available from:
Food Standards Agency,
Aviation House,
125 Kingsway,
London WC2B 6NH
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Post-Chernobyl monitoring and controls survey reports
The Food Standards Agency is responsible for ensuring food safety by preventing products with unacceptable levels of radioactivity from entering the food chain. Widespread monitoring in 1986 identified food safety concerns from meat from sheep grazing in the affected areas. The Agency manages restrictions on the movement of sheep in the affected areas to protect consumers.
Radioactivity in Food and the Environment (RIFE)
Radioactivity in Food and the Environment (RIFE) is an annual report combining the Agency’s monitoring results with those of the Environment Agency, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
Review of the radiological monitoring programmes
A review of the Food Standards Agency’s radiological monitoring programmes was undertaken in February 2006. The review was carried out by a panel of four independent experts.