Gyeonggi-do Institute of Health and Environment: All 7,477 Distributed Food Products Within Radiation Safety Limits

All food products distributed in Gyeonggi Province were found to be within the permissible limits for radiation levels.

The Gyeonggi-do Institute of Health and Environment announced on August 22 that it had conducted radiation inspections on 7,477 food products distributed in the province between 2023 and 2024, and all were confirmed to be within the standard limits.

The main inspection targets included: ▲ 5,851 cases of seafood (such as mackerel, Spanish mackerel, squid, etc.), ▲ 1,135 cases of agricultural products (such as apples, cucumbers, tangerines, pears, grapes, etc.), and ▲ 491 cases of processed foods (such as sauces, solar salt, snacks, curry, etc.). Seafood accounted for 78% of the total, making it the primary focus of monitoring.

Following the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, the number of radiation inspections on distributed seafood increased from 1,563 cases in 2022 to 3,481 cases in 2024, a 2.2-fold increase, reflecting strengthened monitoring.

Status of Radiation Inspection Sample Collection for Distributed Food Products in Gyeonggi-do by Gyeonggi Provincial Institute of Health and Environment

Sample collection for distributed food products was conducted through various distribution channels, including wholesale markets, large supermarkets, department stores, retail stores, local food direct sales outlets, traditional markets, online sellers, and food delivery restaurants. Seafood distributed through eight wholesale markets-Suwon, Guri, Anyang, Ansan, Gimpo, Siheung, Hanam, and Hwaseong-accounted for 64% of the total.

Meanwhile, under the "Gyeonggi-do Ordinance on Blocking Radioactive Substances in Food Service Facilities," radiation inspections of food service ingredients increased from 1,719 cases in 2022 to 2,676 cases in 2024, a 1.5-fold increase. Since 2023, seafood supplied to six daycare centers has also been included, with a total of 794 cases inspected.

In addition, to ensure balanced inspections across the entire province, a food radiation inspection system was established at the Northern Branch in 2024, and a total of 506 cases were inspected.

Do Youngsook, Head of the Agricultural and Marine Products Inspection Division at the Gyeonggi-do Institute of Health and Environment, stated, "The Gyeonggi-do Institute of Health and Environment possesses seven gamma nuclide analyzers, one alpha nuclide analyzer, and one liquid scintillation counter, enabling us to conduct precise inspections and provide residents with reliable radiation testing capabilities."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.