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: 16 February 2026
  Show all updates

  1. 16 February 2026

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

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 7 November 2024

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

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. 24 October 2019

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

  10. 25 October 2018

      First published.

Documents

RIFE 30 General Summary, Radioactivity in Food and the Environment, 2024

Ref: RIFE30GS

HTML

RIFE 30 Technical Summary, Radioactivity in Food and the Environment, 2024

Ref: RIFE30TS

HTML

RIFE 30, Radioactivity in Food and the Environment, 2024

Ref: RIFE30

HTML

RIFE 30 Technical Summary Tables

Ref: RIFE30TSTables

ODS, 8.93 KB

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RIFE 30 Section 1 Introduction Tables

Ref: RIFE30Section1Tables

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RIFE 30 Section 3 Nuclear Fuel Production and Reprocessing Tables

Ref: RIFE30Section3Tables

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RIFE 30 Section 4 Nuclear Power Station Tables

Ref: RIFE30Section4Tables

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RIFE 30 Section 5 Research and Radiochemical Production Tables

Ref: RIFE30Section5Tables

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RIFE 30 Section 6 Defence Tables

Ref: RIFE30Section6Tables

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RIFE 30 Section 7 Industry, Landfill and Legacy Tables

Ref: RIFE30Section7Tables

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RIFE 30 Section 8 Regional Monitoring Tables

Ref: RIFE30Section8Tables

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RIFE 30 Appendix 1 Disposals of Radioactive Waste Tables

Ref: RIFE30Appendix1Tables

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RIFE 30 Appendix 3 Modelling of Concentrations Tables

Ref: RIFE30Appendix3Tables

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RIFE 30 Appendix 4 Consumption, Inhalation, Handling and Occupancy Rate Tables

Ref: RIFE30Appendix4Tables

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RIFE 30 Appendix 5 Dosimetric Data Tables

Ref: RIFE30Appendix5Tables

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RIFE 30 Appendix 6 Natural Radionuclides Tables

Ref: RIFE30Appendix6Tables

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RIFE 30 Appendix 7 Extramural Projects Table

Ref: RIFE30Appendix7Table

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RIFE 30 Dose Assessment Spreadsheets

Ref: RIFE30Assessments

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RIFE 30 Figure Data Files

Ref: RIFE30FIGCSV

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Errata: corrections to RIFE reports

Ref: RIFEErrata

HTML

RIFE 30 Errata Tables

Ref: RIFE30ErrataTables

ODS, 78.6 KB

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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 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

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