Common radioactive foods

 Pretty much all foods are slightly radioactive, because living things contain naturally occurring radioactive isotopes, especially potassium-40 (K-40) and tiny amounts of other radionuclides. 1 

Among common foods, the most radioactive tend to be: 

1. Brazil nuts 🌰
   

• Generally considered the most radioactive common food.
  

• Their deep roots accumulate unusually high amounts of radium from the soil. 12
  

1. Bananas 🍌
   

• Famous for containing potassium, a tiny fraction of which is radioactive potassium-40.
  

• The "banana equivalent dose" is often used as a lighthearted reference for very small radiation exposures. 13
  

1. Potatoes 🥔
   

• Rich in potassium and therefore contain naturally occurring K-40. 4
  

1. Lima beans
   

• Also relatively high in potassium and natural radioactivity. 4
  

1. Carrots 🥕
   

• Another potassium-containing food with measurable natural radioactivity. 4
  

1. Shellfish and some seafood 🦪
   

• Can accumulate small amounts of naturally occurring radioactive elements from the marine environment. 2
  

1. Low-sodium salt
   

• Often contains potassium chloride as a sodium substitute, increasing its K-40 content. 4
  

The important takeaway is that none of these foods are dangerous because of their radioactivity. The EPA notes that the levels are extremely low and do not pose a radiation risk as part of a normal diet. 1 

Fun fact: your own body is radioactive because it naturally contains potassium-40 and carbon-14. Every person experiences thousands of radioactive decays per second inside their body, and that's completely normal. 4