Measurement of radioactive concentration in different foodstuffs consumed in Jazan region

•Radon gas concentration and annual effective dose in foodstuffs.•Pollution of the most consumed foodstuffs in the Jizan region, southwest of the Kingdom of KSA.•Food contamination resulting from agricultural soil and food processing methods.•Milk powder samples contain high levels of radon gas.•The samples of flour, rice, sugar, and salt were within the internationally recommended limit. This study is concerned with measuring and analyzing all the parameters that affect the increase of radioactive forcing values within foodstuffs. Radon gas and radioactive doses of various foodstuffs collected from the markets of the Jazan region were measured using the nuclear track detector (CR-39). The results showed that agricultural soils and food processing methods influence increasing the concentration of radon gas. The highest concentration of radon gas was recorded in the milk sample S11 with a value of 1204.65±108.00 Bq/m3, while the lowest value was in the sugar sample S31 with a value of 78.77±4.15 Bq/m3. The radon gas concentration results for flour, rice, sugar, and salt were all within the recommended limit, while 33% of the results of tea and 84% of the results of powdered milk were higher than the recommended limit. The average effective dose for different foodstuffs ranged from 14.82±1.92 to 2.61±0.25 mSv/y. There was a strong correlation between exhalation rates and radium values. All studied foods are safe for use, except for powdered milk, so it is recommended to reduce it.