No Radioactivity Detected in Gwangju Distributed Food and School Meal Ingredients

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] The Gwangju Metropolitan City Health and Environment Research Institute announced on the 26th that it conducted detailed radiation inspections on 386 food items distributed in marts, wholesale markets, and school meal ingredients throughout the year, confirming that no radiation was detected and all were safe.

The institute tested 177 seafood items, 108 agricultural products, and 101 processed foods, which are frequently purchased by citizens to alleviate concerns about radiation contamination and public anxiety. Among these, high-consumption seafood such as mackerel, hairtail, and croaker accounted for 46% of the total items.

As indicators that easily confirm radiation contamination, iodine (I)-131, cesium (Cs)-134, and cesium (Cs)-137 were analyzed using a high-purity germanium gamma nuclide analyzer. The results showed no radiation detected in any of the samples, and the inspection results have been published on the city’s website.

Additionally, due to ongoing safety concerns regarding the Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant, radiation monitoring was conducted on 48 agricultural products such as lettuce produced in adjacent areas including Samdo-dong, all of which were judged as ‘not detected.’

Kim Jin-hee, head of the Food Analysis Division at the Health and Environment Research Institute, stated, “We will regularly inspect agricultural, seafood, and processed foods distributed in the region as well as agricultural products from areas near the Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant, and disclose the results to citizens to ensure food safety.”