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Research project

Radioactivity in Food and the Environment (RIFE) report 2024

The annual Radioactivity in Food and the Environment (RIFE) report found levels of man-made radioactivity remain below the legal limit of 1 millisievert (mSv) per year.

Last updated: 3 November 2025
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Last updated: 3 November 2025
See all updates
View as PDF
Area of research interest: Radioactivity in Food and the Environment
Project status: Completed
Authors: Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Food Standards Agency, Environment Agency, Department for Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs, Natural Resources Wales, Scottish Environment Protection, Food Standards Scotland.
Date published: 3 November 2025

This report covers sampling and analysis carried out in 2024 as part of the radiological monitoring programme. The main purpose of the programme is to make sure that discharges from the UK nuclear sites do not cause unacceptable exposure to radioactivity through our food. It is available on https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/radioactivity-in-food-and-the-environment-rife-reports

Key findings

The key findings of the RIFE report 2024 are: 

  • the total radiation dose to members of the public in the UK is significantly below the annual dose limit of 1 millisievert for all exposures
  • Overall, between 2023 and 2024 there were no significant changes to the radioactivity measured in food and the environment

Where the results come from

The report combines our monitoring results with those of the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Food Standards Scotland. It brings together our data on food from habits surveys and data on environmental sources of radioactivity to provide a comprehensive picture for people who live close to nuclear sites and eat locally produced food.

Biannual data from the Radiological Monitoring Programme 

The Food Standards Agency collects biannual data as part of the Radiological Monitoring Programme. This data includes results from monitoring food and the environment near UK nuclear sites. The main goal is to make sure that radioactive discharges from these sites do not cause unsafe exposure to people through food.

The data helps provide a clear and reliable picture of radioactivity in food and the environment for the public and supports decisions to keep food safe. Radiological Monitoring Data

Habits surveys

Habits surveys are conducted to establish the habits of people living and working near nuclear sites in the United Kingdom. This includes the food they eat and the activities they carry out in the area around nuclear sites. The information from the surveys and data on the levels of radioactivity found in food and the environment are used to calculate the level of radiation they are exposed to.
In 2024, habits surveys were carried out at: 

The results were used to improve the assessment of doses to the members of the public near nuclear licensed sites.

FSA explains

Radioactivity has been around since the Earth formed. It exists naturally in the atmosphere, soil, seas and rivers. It is also created by human activity during energy production and military operations.

Very small amounts of radioactivity get into our food and drink. Most of the radioactivity found in food results from natural rather than man-made sources.

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