Research and analysis

Radioactivity in food and the environment (RIFE) report

Annual assessment report of radioactivity in food and the environment and the public's exposure to radiation.

• From: Environment Agency, Food Standards Agency, Natural Resources Wales and Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
• Published: 25 October 2018
• Last updated: 29 October 2026
  Show all updates

  1. 29 October 2026

     Adding the report and supporting files for the 'Radioactivity in Food and the Environment, 2025 (RIFE 31) report, including link for RIFE 30. The appendices have been moved to a standalone document. Added note regarding older reports as these may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

  2. 16 February 2026

     Clarification on how to request a PDF copy of the report from the Environment Agency.

  3. 16 December 2025

     Edited the contributions (to dose) for Harwell and Dungeness in table S (RIFE 30 Technical Summary Tables) to read "Direct Radiation" and "Gamma dose rate over sediment", respectively. Revised Table 6.3(a) (RIFE 30 Section 6 Defence Tables), replacing "Potatoes" with "Beetroot" for Barrow, "Potatoes" with "Onions" for Devonport, and the antimony-125 concentration in seawater was updated to <0.15 for Rosyth.

  4. 30 October 2025

     Adding the report and supporting files for the 'Radioactivity in Food and the Environment, 2024 (RIFE 30) report. The technical summary also appears as a standalone document.

  5. 7 November 2024

     Added the report and supporting files for the 'Radioactivity in food and the environment, 2023 (RIFE 29)' report.

  6. 2 November 2023

     Added the report and supporting files for the 'Radioactivity in food and the environment, 2022 (RIFE 28)' report. Removed past material from the page and linked to the National Archive for this in the publication 'Details' section.

  7. 3 November 2022

     Added the full 'RIFE 27: Radioactivity in food and the environment 2021' report, its appendix and a HTML summary of the report.

  8. 4 November 2021

     Added 'RIFE 26: Radioactivity in food and the environment: 2020' and its appendix. Updated the 'errata: corrections to reports' document so it covers from 1995 to 2020.

  9. 5 November 2020

     We have added Radioactivity in food and the environment 2019: RIFE 25 and its appendix. We have replaced the erratum with an updated version.

  10. 24 October 2019

      We've added RIFE 24, the 2018 report and associated documents. This includes a summary report for 2004 to 2016.

  11. 25 October 2018

      First published.

Documents

RIFE 31 General Summary, Radioactivity in Food and the Environment, 2025

Ref: RIFE31GS

HTML

RIFE 31 Technical Summary, Radioactivity in Food and the Environment, 2025

Ref: RIFE31TS

HTML

RIFE 31, Radioactivity in Food and the Environment, 2025

Ref: RIFE31

HTML

RIFE 31 Appendices, Radioactivity in Food and the Environment, 2025

Ref: RIFE31APPS

HTML

RIFE 31 Technical Summary Tables

Ref: RIFE31TSTables

ODS, 8.84 KB

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RIFE 31 Section 1 Introduction Tables

Ref: RIFE31Section1Tables

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RIFE 31 Section 3 Nuclear Fuel Production and Reprocessing Tables

Ref: RIFE31Section3Tables

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RIFE 31 Section 4 Nuclear Power Station Tables

Ref: RIFE31Section4Tables

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RIFE 31 Section 5 Research and Radiochemical Production Tables

Ref: RIFE31Section5Tables

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RIFE 31 Section 6 Defence Tables

Ref: RIFE31Section6Tables

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RIFE 31 Section 7 Industry, Landfill and Legacy Tables

Ref: RIFE31Section7Tables

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RIFE 31 Section 8 Regional Monitoring Tables

Ref: RIFE31Section8Tables

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RIFE 31 Appendix 1 Disposals of Radioactive Waste Tables

Ref: RIFE31Appendix1Tables

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RIFE 31 Appendix 3 Modelling of Concentrations Tables

Ref: RIFE31Appendix3Tables

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RIFE 31 Appendix 4 Consumption, Inhalation, Handling and Occupancy Rate Tables

Ref: RIFE31Appendix4Tables

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RIFE 31 Appendix 5 Dosimetric Data Tables

Ref: RIFE31Appendix5Tables

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RIFE 31 Appendix 6 Natural Radionuclides Tables

Ref: RIFE31Appendix6Tables

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RIFE 31 Appendix 7 Extramural Projects Table

Ref: RIFE31Appendix7Table

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RIFE 31 Dose Assessment Spreadsheets

Ref: RIFE31Assessments

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RIFE 31 Figure Data Files

Ref: RIFE31FIGCSV

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Errata: corrections to RIFE reports

Ref: RIFEErrata

HTML

RIFE 31 Errata Tables

Ref: RIFE31ErrataTables

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Details

This report gives a detailed assessment of radioactivity in food and the environment and the public’s exposure to radiation during a specific year. It shows that the public’s exposure to permitted discharges and direct radiation near nuclear and non-nuclear sites is low and within dose limits.

The report brings together the nationwide monitoring programmes of the UK’s food standard agencies and environment agencies. This monitoring is independent of, and is also used as a check on, the monitoring carried out by site operators.

Check the National Archives for:

• RIFE 30 (2024)
• RIFE 29 (2023)
• Radioactivity in food and the environment, 2004 to 2021
• RIFE 28 (2022)
• RIFE 15 (2009) to RIFE 27 (2021), including 2004 to 2008 and 2004 to 2016 trends reports
• RIFE 1 (1995) to RIFE 14 (2008) reports

Older reports may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

To request a PDF copy of the report from the Environment Agency contact nuclear@environment-agency.gov.uk.

Find out more about the monitoring of radioactivity.

To find out more about the Environment Agency’s work:

• email nuclear@environment-agency.gov.uk to sign up for their nuclear regulation e-bulletin

• read their ‘Creating a better place’ blog