Accidental Radioactive Contamination of Human Food and Animal Feeds: Recommendations for State and Local Agencies

Recommended Actions

1. Establish monitoring programs to measure radionuclide concentrations in food
2. Implement protective actions when DILs are exceeded:
   • Temporary embargoes
   • Food processing modifications
   • Control of animal feeds
3. Consider age-specific dietary factors when evaluating contamination risks
4. Maintain capability for rapid response to nuclear accidents affecting food supply
5. Develop coordination procedures between state and local agencies
6. Establish communication channels with federal agencies (FDA, USDA)
7. Create protocols for international trade compliance
8. Train personnel on radiation monitoring and protective action implementation
9. Maintain emergency response plans and update based on new information
10. Document all actions taken during contamination events

Key Considerations

Non-clinical testing

• Food monitoring and analysis for radionuclide concentrations
• Comparison of measured concentrations against Derived Intervention Levels (DILs)
• Analysis focused on principal radionuclides: I-131, Cs-134+Cs-137, Ru-103+Ru-106

Labelling

• Clear identification and labeling required for baby foods and infant formulas
• Labeling requirements for dried or concentrated products with reconstitution instructions

Safety

• Protective Action Guides (PAGs) set at 5 mSv committed effective dose equivalent or 50 mSv committed dose equivalent to individual tissues/organs
• DILs established for different radionuclide groups
• Fraction of contaminated food intake assumed at 30% for general population, 100% for infant diets
• Special considerations for different age groups (3 months to adult)

Other considerations

• Protective actions to be taken before and after confirmation of contamination
• Temporary embargoes on potentially contaminated food
• Special handling of animal feeds to prevent contamination transfer to human food
• International trade considerations and compliance with CODEX/CEC guidelines

  Relevant Guidances

• Immunological Testing for Medical Devices: Evaluation and Assessment of Adverse Effects
• Testing and Labeling of Medical Devices for Magnetic Resonance (MR) Environment Safety and Compatibility
• Labeling Requirements and Recommendations for Medical Devices
• Use of ISO 10993-1 for Biological Evaluation and Testing of Medical Devices
• Chemical Analysis in Medical Device Biocompatibility Assessment (Draft)

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Original guidance

• Accidental Radioactive Contamination of Human Food and Animal Feeds: Recommendations for State and Local Agencies
• HTML / PDF
• Issue date: 1998-08-13
• Last changed date: 2021-04-27
• Status: FINAL
• Official FDA topics: Medical Devices, Radiation-Emitting Products, Radiological Health
• ReguVirta summary file ID: 25cedfdd2c5520a32bc6bc4500681d53