Irradiation labeling laws being relaxed

Food irradiation labeling laws have, over the years, been relaxed. radura irradiation labeling

In the US, for example, such foods no longer need to be labeled with the words "irradiated" or "treated with irradiation". Instead, only the Radura irradiation symbol (right) is needed.

More recently, the US Food and Drug Administration announced in 2007 that certain irradiated foods, such as almonds, might simply be described as "pasteurized".

This a totally misleading as there is a very major difference between pasteurization and food irradiation. Pasteurization involves brief exposure to high heat, while irradiation involves exposure to radioactive substances.

This article was first published in a 1994 issue of The Good Life, which had the theme, Strange foods. Well, not only are Irradiated foods strange, but so are the irradiation labeling legislation.

SYMBOLS OF 'FRESHNESS'

Irradiated foods look fresh, even though they may be several months, or several years, old. There is no easy way to tell them apart from really fresh food. Consumers can therefore be easily confused. And easily deceived.

Of course, there are some labeling laws. But foods like grains, vegetables, fruit, fish and meat are often sold without any labels.

Irradiation labeling is not always required either. In many European countries, it is voluntary. Or, when foods are exported, then the exporting countries laws do not apply.

In Singapore, a licence is needed for the import of irradiated food and such food must state on its label, "treated with ionizing irradiation" or "Irradiated..." followed by the name of the food.

However, the laws in many countries cover only whole foods that have been irradiated. If a batch of potatoes has been irradiated, the producer may have to say so. But if a can of soup is made from irradiated potatoes, irradiated spices and other irradiated ingredients, the soup manufacturer need not to mention a word.

Places that served cooked food are also not required to say if they use irradiated ingredients -- just as they are not presently required to say if they use MSG and other chemical additives.

But let’s assumes that an irradiated food comes “properly” labeled. What is proper?

In the United States, it used to be required that the label must carry a “Radura” irradiation symbol (above), together with words such as “irradiated” or “treated with irradiation”.

This rule was later relaxed. Now, only the “Radura” symbol is required. And the symbol is misleading. It is stylized plant or flower, which suggest a health food rather than a potentially harmful food.

The Radura symbol resembles the logo of the US Environmental Protection Agency -- and the logo of Singapore’s Ministry of Health. Again, it looks more like a stamp of approval than a warning sign.

The Radura symbol used in the UK and South Africa is even more misleading. It says “Radura -- The emblem of quality”.

The US Food and Drug Administration in 1993 laid down regulations for the use of various words on food labels. So now, the word “fresh” can be used only to describe food that is “raw, has never been frozen or heated, and contains no preservatives”. It sounds like a smart regulation, until the next sentence: “Irradiation is allowed”.

UPDATE

In 2007, the US FDA proposed further relaxation of irradiation labeling requirements, so that certain irradiated foods such as almonds can merely be labeled as "pasteurized". Companies need irradiation labeling only if the irradiation causes a material change to the product, such as changes to the taste, texture, smell or shelf life of a food.

Click below for:

Part I of this article, which introduces food irradiation and discusses some of the issues involved.

Part II, which looks at effects of food irradiation, including the formation of toxic chemicals, vitamin losses, mutation of bacteria and viruses, decreased immunity and chromosome defects.

Click here for lots more discussions on food irradiation and irradiation labeling at www.mercola.com