The most well-known foods which naturally include radionuclides are Brazil nuts and bananas. The radiation present in fruits however, poses no danger to our health and is recommended in our everyday diet. Potassium is found in great proportions in bananas by nature, with a little fraction of it being radioactive. Radiation from a single banana can reach 0.01 millirem (0.1 micro Sieverts). There is virtually no radioactivity here. To put that into perspective, the amount of radiation exposure you get from natural radiation in the environment in the United States each day would need you to consume around 100 bananas. Brazil nuts have potassium, much like bananas, but they also absorb a small amount of radium from the soil in which they are grown.
Food irradiation and natural radiation in food are not the same thing. The process of "food irradiation" makes use of ionizing radiation in order to stop food spoilage and foodborne illnesses like "food poisoning." Food is exposed to a radiation beam, which resembles a huge torch, in order to destroy germs, mold, and other pests. Food irradiation does not turn food radioactive, nor does it come into touch with radioactive elements
In the case of a radiological event, there may be situations in which an animal ingests materials that contain radioactivity. 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 to the public about food restrictions if needed.
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