Though the levels of consumer acceptance vary among countries, consumers in North America are rapidly increasing their acceptance of irradiated foods (19, 20). Chem. Chem. Adverse health affects of food irradiation. These expert groups have uniformly concluded that the food irradiation process does not present any enhanced toxicological, microbiological, or nutritional hazard beyond those brought about by conventional food processing techniques (2). Foods containing irradiated ingredients such as spices, but which are not themselves irradiated, need not bear a label. 2002, 63, 211-215. Labeling is not required in restaurant foods. Consumer education has resulted in an appreciation of the benefits of irradiated foods. With proper application, irradiation can be an effective means of eliminating and/or reducing microbial and insect infestations along with the foodborne diseases they induce, thereby improving the safety of many foods as well as extending shelf life. Chem. It also can change food, such as when bananas are irradiated to stay yellow longer, the proposal states. food has been irradiated. In addition, detection tests can be used to enforce the labeling requirements (see below) for identifying irradiated foods. 1997, 30, 249-264. The law says companies can petition the FDA "for approval of labeling, which is not false or misleading in any material respect, of a food that has been treated by irradiation." Safety of Irradiated Foods; Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, 1995, pp 291-293. Therefore, when selecting a polymer for a particular application, the effect of radiation on the overall stability of the material must be considered. (17) Weaver, V.M. Fruits. In 1997, Congress attempted to resolve this issues in two ways. Phys. At retail sale the term radurised is used on the label to denote an irradiated product. 1993, 42, 245-251. ; Marcotte, M.L. Bulk foods, such as fruits and vegetables, must be individually labeled or to have a label next to the sale container. Phys. Ulmann, introduced this symbol to the international community. Copyright © The Regents of the University of California, Davis campus. Rad. Look for the Radura symbol along with the statement “Treated with radiation” or “Treated by irradiation” on the food label. In addition, the migration of low-molecular-weight radiolysis products into food could affect the odor and taste of the irradiated food. The label or sign must clearly reveal that the food has been irradiated with both a written statement and the following international symbol [B.01.035, FDR]: This public resistance is why food trade associations have been plotting to eliminate all requirements for labeling irradiated food. Many times, the label on the package is the only indication that a food was irradiated. Beware, however, not to confuse foods irradiated with genetically modified or transgenic organisms. Regardless of the review channel, chemistry data supporting the identity of and human dietary exposure to a new food-contact substance intended to be used during the irradiation of prepackaged food, as well as its radiolysis products, must be submitted to the FDA. Yet, if irradiated ingredients are added to foods that have not been irradiated, no special labeling is required on retail packages. Food irradiation is the treatment of food with a type of radiation energy known as ionizing radiation. I have to say in the past many years, we’ve noted foods that are irradiated and you don’t see a label on it. The labelling regulations as outlined in the FDR require the identification of wholly irradiated foods on the labels of prepackaged products, as well as signs on accompanying bulk displays of irradiated foods. included on the secondary label. 1996, 48, 362-363. Ingredients processed by restaurants or food Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, inserted the labeling provisions in the farm bill in an effort to promote acceptance of irradiated foods. ; Fraser, L.; Lynch, J.A. 2000, 57, 215 -217. Chem. Chem. (40) Diehl, J.F. According to the CDC, the only fruits currently being irradiated are tropical fruits from Hawaii and strawberries and … Most of the packaging materials listed in 21 CFR 179.45 are films and homogeneous structures that were approved in the 1960s. The advantages of food irradiation (process safety, reduction of chemical use, and improved quality and safety of foods) over other food preservation techniques such as canning, freezing, or chemical treatment far outweigh the drawbacks - a slight reduction in nutrients (vitamins) (18). The list of FDA-approved, irradiated foods for pathogen control has recently been amended to include fresh shell eggs (28) and seeds for sprouting (29). The wholesomeness of irradiated foods has, therefore, been the subject of considerable national and international research, which has been reviewed and evaluated by joint expert committees of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. 2002, 63, 281-284. A petition, the more common method of regulatory alteration, is a scientific and legal document that forms the basis for the administrative record under-pinning the Agency's decision. In this regulation, FDA advises that other truthful statements, such as the reason for irradiating the food, may be included (13). Labeling requirements apply only to whole foods that have been irradiated. Is Irradiated Food safe? Government regulations require irradiated food at the retail level to be labeled "Irradiated" and to bear an international logo, the radura. Irradiated whole foods sold including fruits and vegetables also must display the label. Rad. Some foods are irradiated to clear foods of food-borne diseases and provide support for unsafe factory farming practices. Chem. Int. Since food is usually prepackaged prior to irradiation, the possibility of radiolytic products being released from packaging materials into food requires a safety evaluation. The labeling of irradiated food must display the symbol of food irradiation as appeared in Annex 3 of the proposed notification. Irradiated meat and poultry are then subject to the requirements of the Acts, which are administered by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Center for Food Safety is a US-based non-profit organisation that works to protect human health and the environment by curbing the use of harmful food production technologies and promoting organic and other forms of sustainable agriculture.It believes that the process of irradiation may be misused to cover poor sanitation conditions and can create trace amounts of cancer. When a single ingredient product is prepared from a raw material which has been irradiated, the label of the product shall contain a statement indicating the treatment. ; Lamy-Freund, M.T. Decades of research worldwide have shown that irradiation of food is a safe and effective way to: 1. kill bacteria in foods 2. extend the shelf life of food In 2011, the European Food Safety Authority reviewed the evidence and confirmed again that food irradiation is safe. Irradiated food comes with this label November 25, 1997 Web posted at: 4:37 p.m. EST (2137 GMT) From Correspondent Eugenia Halsey. Final Rule, Federal Register, 1997, 62(232), 64107-64121. Phys. If labels are eliminated now, only a public health catastrophe can reinstate them. (42) Luckman, G.J. In the U.S., components of packaging used to hold food during irradiation must undergo premarket approval by the FDA and may be used only if they comply with the regulations in 21 CFR 179.45 or are the subject of an effective food contact notification or Threshold of Regulation exemption. The regulations should focus on the production of microbiologically safe products that meet the stated technical purposes, should provide appropriate flexibility for processors, and should be in conformity with Codex as well as the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement on the sanitary and phytosanitary measures. To aid in the case where the target materials include living organisms food contains free radicals and products. 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