EPR:e-scan Food Analyzer0 pages

Food Irradiation Control
Introduction
Currently, more than 240,000 tons of
food and dietary supplements per year,
worldwide, are treated with radiation,
with spices and vegetable seasonings
making up the majority. However, this
amount is still small compared to the
amount of food produced. For example,
in Germany per capita consumption is
ca. 1.4 tons per year [1]. Nevertheless,
both the current standards for consumer
protection and the need for a traceable
and transparent food production chain
demand a proper food control strategy.

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European Union (EU) directives [2]
clearly state that irradiated food as well
as food containing irradiated ingredients
(regardless of their percentage) must
be labeled (Fig. 1 shows the international food irradiation symbol, the radura).
Furthermore, national authorities are
responsible for issuing a clearance list [3]
of irradiated food (and packing materials
for some countries). For example, in Germany only spices, herbs and vegetable
seasonings but no poultry or shrimps are
cleared for irradiation. Therefore, national
or federal bodies are obliged to control
dairy and imported food according to
EU norms and to ensure that the corresponding laws are observed by the food
industry and importers.

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Figure 1: The international
food irradiation symbol,
referred to as the radura
symbol.

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