Recommendations on accidental radioactive contamination of human food and animal feeds were issued in 1982 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (FDA 1982, Shleien et al 1982). Since then, there have been enough significant advancements related to emergency planning to warrant updating the recommendations. New scientific information and radiation protection philosophy are incorporated, experience gained since 1982 is included, and guidance developed by international organizations is taken into account (Schmidt 1988a, l988b, 1990, Burnett and Rosenstein 1989).

These recommendations provide guidance applicable to accidents at nuclear power plants and many other types of accidents where a significant radiation dose2 could be received as a result of consumption of contaminated food. These recommendations rescind and replace the 1982 FDA recommendations.