The aim of this study is to determine the amounts of radionuclides' activity present in samples of feed for young and adult chicken and feed for dairy and beef cattle, as well as in dicalcium phosphate (DCP) (CaHPO4), used as a nutritional supplement for animal feed. Radioactivity in these samples is due to the presence of the 238U and 232Th radioactive series, as well as their daughter. In addition, as it is for environmental samples, the activity of 40K should be an important source of radioactivity in all analyzed samples. Gamma rays were measured using a standard spectroscopy system, with a high-resolution HPGe detector. Measured activities in feed samples ranged from 0.23 to 1.51 Bq.kg-1, 0.67 to 4.21 Bq.kg-1, 0.29 to 1.63 Bq.kg-1 and 236 to 402 Bq.kg-1 for 226Ra, 228 Ra, 228 Th and 40K, respectively. Measured activities in DCP samples were 46.6 Bq.kg-1, 83 Bq.kg-1, 4.20 Bq.kg-1 and 16.61 Bq.kg-1 for 40 K, 226 Ra, 228 Ra and 228 Th, respectively. Although 40K activity has reached hundreds of Becquerel in feed samples, it should not represent a risk to human health, not even to animals, since potassium is an essential mineral to living organisms.

Uma bebida amplamente consumida e cultivada no Brasil é o chá-mate (Ilex paraguariensis - St. Hil). Foram analisados os traços radioativos de três marcas comerciais de chá-mate tostado produzidos no sul do Brasil. As medidas foram realizadas por espectrometria gama. Os valores médios para as atividades medidas do 40K, para as marcas A, B e C foram 1216 ± 8, 1047 ± 14 e 666 ± 13 Bq.kg-1, respectivamente. As atividades para o 137Cs foram menores que o limite mínimo de detecção.

The mate tea (Ilex paraguariensis - St. Hil.) is a beverage broadly cultivated and consumed in Brazil. The radioactive traces present in three trademarks of toasted mate tea produced at the south of Brazil were analyzed. Measurements were carried out by gamma-ray spectrometry. The average value for the 40K activity measured for marks A, B and C was 1216 ± 8, 1047 ± 14 and 666 ± 13 Bq.kg-1, respectively. The 137Cs activity was lower than the limit of detection.