Controls on chemicals in food

Food irradiation is the treatment of food with ionising radiation. Only certain food categories may be irradiated. The treatment involves exposing food to electron beams, X-rays or gamma rays. It must be carried out at approved facilities and under strict controls. Irradiated foods must be clearly labelled as 'irradiated' or 'treated with ionising radiation'.

Why is irradiation used in food?

Food irradiation can be used to:

• destroy harmful bacteria such as salmonella and campylobacter
• reduce spoilage of food and extend shelf life
• delay fruit ripening and stop vegetables from sprouting
• control pests in some food - for example, fruit flies

The law states irradiation can only be used if it benefits consumers. Businesses that want to irradiate a food product have to be able to show that the benefits of irradiation outweigh any negatives.

The UK law allows seven categories of foods to be irradiated:

• fruit
• vegetables
• cereals
• bulbs and tubers
• dried aromatic herbs, spices and vegetable seasonings
• fish and shellfish
• poultry

See also the scope of foods and food ingredients authorised for irradiation in the EU.

Is irradiated food safe?

Major international bodies (including the World Health Organisation, UN Food and Agriculture Organisation and European scientific committees) consider irradiation safe when used within legal limits. The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) also recognises irradiation of food as a safe processing technique and oversees irradiated food regulation across the UK.

What you must do if you use or sell irradiated foods

If you use or sell irradiated food, you must:

• source it only from approved facilities
• keep supplier records showing what was irradiated and where
• label it clearly as 'irradiated' or 'treated with ionising radiation'

If irradiated food is used as an ingredient, these words must appear next to the ingredient in the ingredients list. If irradiated food is not pre-packed, these words must appear on a display or notice above or beside the container.

Regulators can detect whether foods have been irradiated and sample foods on the market to check that the rules are followed. They can also check that the products are correctly labelled.