Food Irradiation

Food Irradiation Food irradiation is one of the few technologies which address both food quality and safety by virtue of its ability to control spoilage and food-borne pathogenic micro-organisms and insect pests without affecting significantly any sensory or other organoleptic attributes. Foods are irradiated to provide the same benefits as when they are processed by heat, refrigeration, freezing or treated with chemicals. Far from sterilising the food, which still requires proper handling and cooking, irradiation destroys disease-carrying bacteria and reduces the incidence of food borne illnesses making it possible to keep food longer, while at the same time ensuring a higher level of safety and quality.

After many years of research and domestic and international standards development more than 60 countries have regulations allowing the use of irradiation in at least one product. In 2003, the Joint FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission, published the Codex General Standard for Irradiated Foods and the Recommended International Code of Practice for Radiation Processing of Food Irradiation is now widely accepted as a proven and effective post harvest treatment to reduce bacterial contamination, however, it is in the control of insect pests, including pests of quarantine significance where irradiation applications are becoming more widely used by many countries.

With a view to harmonizing standards in irradiation worldwide, the IAEA is also collaborating closely with the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) in the completion of Guidelines for the Use of Irradiation as a Phytosanitary Measure, including irradiation treatment for specific insect pests such as fruit flies, to meet increasingly rigorous quarantine requirements. Limited international trade in several varieties of irradiation treated fruit has now commenced in both Asia and the Pacific and the North and South America regions.

The long term goals of the Subprogramme include the strengthening of the national capacities of FAO/IAEA Member States in applying irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment to control insect pests in exported fruits and vegetables.