Food can be radioactive, and edible too
Naturally-occurring radionuclides such as potassium, carbon, radium and their decay products are found in some foods
It is potassium-40 in bananas that make the fruit naturally radioactive, as are likewise, potatoes, sunflower seeds, and kidney beans.
But don’t worry, the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology said that the radiation levels emitted by these foods are so low.
In fact, one would need to eat some 100 bananas to get the same level of natural background radiation in the environment, the agency explained.“Yes, bananas and some of our favorite foods are radioactive, but it’s all natural and safe,” the DoST-PNRI stressed.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has explained that some foods contain trace amounts of naturally-occurring radionuclides.
It said that bananas and Brazil nuts are the most well-known examples of foods that contain radioactive material.
“Naturally-occurring radionuclides such as potassium, carbon, radium and their decay products are found in some foods. Because the
amount of radiation is very small, these foods do not pose a radiation risk,” it added.
Natural radioactivity
Some foods contain small amounts of radioactive elements and food can gain this radioactivity in a few ways.
The most well-known examples of foods with naturally-occurring radionuclides are bananas and Brazil nuts.
Bananas have naturally high-levels of potassium and a small fraction of all potassium is radioactive. Each banana can emit .01 millirem (0.1 microsieverts) of radiation.
“This is a very small amount of radiation,” the U.S. EPA emphasized.
To put that in context, the EPA said that one would need to eat about 100 bananas to receive the same amount of radiation exposure one gets each day in the U.S. from natural radiation in the environment.
Like bananas, Brazil nuts contain potassium, but they also contain a small amount of radium from the soil in which they are grown.
Natural radiation in food should not be confused with food irradiation.
Food irradiation is a process that uses ionizing radiation to prevent foodborne illness (“food poisoning”) and food spoilage.
Food is passed through a radiation beam–like a large flashlight–to kill bacteria, molds, and other pests in food.
Radiological events
The irradiated food does not come into contact with radioactive materials, and food irradiation does not make food radioactive.
In the case of a radiological event, there may be situations in which an animal ingests materials that contain radioactive elements.
For example, if radioactive materials are found in water, some fish may ingest them, which, in turn, could be eaten by a human as part of their diet.
It’s important to note that, in the case of a radiological event, there will be guidance made available to the public about food restrictions if necessary.
To ensure the protection of the public, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration tests food in the United States for contaminants,
including radiation, and sets strict limits and restrictions on foods imported from other countries.
Natural radiation in food does not require any special actions because the radiation levels are extremely low.