Handling of maximum acceptable levels of radionuclide contamination of food

Since the reactor accident of Chernobyl, the Federal Government has kept the Land Governments informed and has passed on scientifically based recommendations relating to adequate behaviour and food consumption of the population. The Federal Government and the Commission for Radiation Protection (SSK) proceeded according to the so-called 'minimizing principle'. That's why the limiting value for iodine 131 in milk has been so determined as to make sure that an infant who drinks one litre of milk a day for one week, is exposed to not more than 3 rem. The limiting value for iodine 131 in fresh milk has been set at 500 Bq/l. This results in the above-mentioned radiation exposure of the maximum rate of 3 rem. The limiting value for green-leaf vegetables, e.g. spinach, is set at 250 Bq/kg. Thus, a further safety margin is provided for. (orig./HSCH)