Manual of food quality control 16. radionuclides in food

The world's attitude toward radionuclide contamination of foods suddenly changed on April 26, 1986. On that date the accident and fire at the nuclear reactor at the Chernobyl power station released a considerable amount of radioactive substances into the atmosphere. Radioactive particles were transported over Europe and Asia by air currents and eventually settled to earth to begin a new life as environmental contaminants. Widespread monitoring of radionuclide contamination of foods had been commonplace in the 1950's and 60's. However, since the cessation of above-ground testing of nuclear weapons in the 1960's there had been little public concern and consequently reduced monitoring of radionuclides in foods. As a result of the widespread fallout of radionuclides from Chernobyl, nations began intensive sampling and analysis efforts to determine the level and extent of the contamination. Food sampling and regular monitoring of radioactivity levels were activated by all the countries affected by the fallout and by countries importing food from affected areas