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Food Safety Confirmed by Results: All Radioactivity Tests on Distributed Food in 2025 Found to Meet Standards in Busan Metropolitan City

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The Busan Metropolitan City Institute of Health & Environment (hereinafter referred to as the institute) announced that it conducted monitoring to determine radioactive contamination in seafood, processed foods, and agricultural products distributed within the city to ensure food safety, and that all results met the established standards and were confirmed to be safe.

Radioactivity testing of food has been conducted annually since the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in Japan to address public concerns. Following last year, the institute plans to further strengthen testing of seafood this year.

This inspection was carried out throughout 2025 on a total of 1,389 food items distributed in Busan, testing for artificial radionuclides iodine and cesium. By category, the samples included ▲989 seafood items (such as fish, seaweed, and cephalopods) ▲222 processed foods (including processed seafood products and seasoning products) ▲178 agricultural products (including vegetables and fruits).

Among the total 1,389 samples, ▲926 were domestically produced ▲128 were produced in Japan ▲335 were other imported products. The collection sites included various distribution channels such as local supermarkets, traditional markets, food ingredients used in school and daycare center meal services, and products distributed through online platforms.

In addition, in July of last year the institute achieved the highest grade, “Excellent,” in the cesium (137Cs) evaluation category during the “2025 Food Radioactivity Proficiency Testing” organized by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

The proficiency testing is conducted by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to enhance testing and inspection capabilities and ensure the reliability of testing institutions. Among the evaluation items, the radioactivity (cesium) category was introduced for the first time last year. This year, another evaluation for radioactivity (cesium) in seafood is scheduled to take place around June to July.

The institute publishes the results of food radioactivity inspections weekly on the Busan Metropolitan City website (https://busan.go.kr/depart/safetyinspection) and the institute’s website (https://busan.go.kr/ihe/healthdata02) in an effort to alleviate public concerns about radioactive contamination in food.

Lee Yong-ju, Director of the Busan Metropolitan City Institute of Health & Environment, stated, “Busan Metropolitan City will continue to operate a continuous radioactivity inspection system based on advanced analytical equipment and specialized personnel, and will do its utmost to ensure the radioactive safety of food for citizens.”